Although no one is able to say who composed the prayer, it’s generally assigned to Reinhold Niebuhr. He included the text in a sermon that he gave at the time of World War II.
Many people haven’t had the pleasure of meeting his name. Protestant theologian, however the majority of us have read his most familiar words.The title of this prayer originates from one of the words within the opening line. At a time when people around the globe were in dire need of peace and harmony the way it is now. The words were included in a book for military Chaplains. Here’s the original version.
“God grant our hearts the ability to be able to accept in peace things that can’t be changed, the courage to alter the things that need to be changed, and the wisdom to discern between the two.”
“The Serenity Prayer” actually includes eleven more phrases. The words make the prayer even more significant for every situation that we encounter in our lives. “Living each day at a time. taking each moment in an time, embracing difficulties as a path to peace, embracing in, like Jesus did, this imperfect world in its current state and not the way I would like it to be, believing you will be able to make everything right, if I submit to Your decision-making .”
Although Niebuhr’s writings were originally written in the form of prayer, they provide us the practical guidelines to follow when faced with the challenges of life and making decisions. Everyday is an offering from God.
A person once told me that that we can get up and start the day in one of two ways “Good morning Lord!” or “Good Lord, it’s the morning!”
It is our duty to seek His mercy, His strength as well as His insight. The Lord promises His word to us He will make His mercy enough because His strength is perfect in our weaknesses (read 2 Corinthians 12:9).
The pastor and writer Chuck Swindoll once said, “Wisdom is the ability God has given us to look at life with uncommon objectivity and to deal with life with rare stabilities.” The Bible states that if anyone has a lack of wisdom, “let him (or her) seek the help of God…and the wisdom will come to you. granted” (James 1:5).
There is no way to come out living. Ailments, accidents, or aging will make us be dead. George Bernard Shaw observed, “The statistics on death are astounding – one out of a million people die.”
How can suffering and suffering, which can lead to death be the path towards tranquility? Christians learn to trust God regardless of circumstance and discover peace that is beyond all comprehension.
PGA Tour player Paul Azinger wrote a book about his struggle with cancer. While Paul was in chemotherapy and wasn’t sure whether he would survive or die the player experienced peace and joy. Golfer Payne Stewart asked him, “How do you attain this kind of peace?” Azinger replied, “We aren’t living in the land of the living and going to the country of the dying. The place we are in is the country of the dying traveling to the land people who are living.”
God has plans and goals that each one of us must accomplish throughout our lives If we are willing to submit the will of God.
— Jan White has compiled a collection of her columns in her book “Everyday Faith for Daily Life.”
The article A timeless prayer for all situations was first published at The Andalusia Star-News.
