“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.”
These simple lines, often recited at the beginning or end of meetings, hold a depth that grows richer with time and experience. The Serenity Prayer is more than just words—it’s a way of living, a spiritual tool that guides me through life’s challenges with grace, strength, and clarity. Over the years, it has taken on new meanings and has given me more insights.
Serenity: The Gift of Acceptance
The first line invites serenity—the calm that comes from letting go. Acceptance is not resignation; it is a recognition that most things are beyond my control: other people’s choices, the past, illness, and life’s inevitable twists. When I stop fighting reality, I begin to experience peace. In recovery, serenity often starts when I stop trying to fix or control everything and everyone, and focus on my own healing and my own side of the road.
Courage: The Call to Action
While acceptance is essential, the prayer doesn’t end there. I’m also called to take responsibility—to have the courage to change what I can. That includes my attitudes, behaviors, and responses. In recovery, courage might look like showing up to a meeting, staying quiet, making amends, setting boundaries, or simply staying abstinent one day at a time. Change can be uncomfortable, but it’s also where growth lives.
Wisdom: The Balance Between Acceptance and Action
The final line ties it all together with a plea for wisdom. Knowing when to accept and when to act is rarely black and white. It takes honesty, reflection, and often the guidance of a sponsor or a Higher Power. Wisdom is still a work in progress for me. While I may not have it all the time, I’ve become better at recognizing it in others. I know that wisdom grows over time and often shows up in quiet moments of prayer, meditation, or conversation with those who are further along in their own journey.
Living the Prayer
The Serenity Prayer is a spiritual compass. It doesn’t eliminate life’s problems, but it gives me a grounded, graceful way to face them. When I repeat it daily, it becomes a calming rhythm, a way to pause, breathe, and re-center. Often, I repeat it over and over again while I’m walking, driving, bicycling or simply waiting, like a mantra, and it truly brings me peace in that moment.
In the ups and downs of life, the Serenity Prayer reminds me of what is truly mine to carry—and what I can gently place in the hands of my Higher Power.
– Val B
©2024 Experience Strength & Hope Newsletter,
All rights reserved. Proudly sponsored by OA Foot Steps VIG #09670.
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