The Serenity Prayer
The Serenity Prayer is a short prayer asking God for serenity to accept what cannot be changed, courage to change what can, and wisdom to know the difference. It is usually attributed to the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the 1930s, though its exact origin and wording are still debated.
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5 (BSB)
Few prayers are as widely known as this one. It is prayed in churches and kitchens, hospital corridors and recovery meetings, by people who need help telling apart what is theirs to carry and what is not. It is usually credited to Reinhold Niebuhr, who is thought to have used it in the 1930s, but historians still debate its exact origin and earliest wording. Below is the familiar short form, followed by three new prayers on the same themes of acceptance, courage and wisdom. A longer version is sometimes quoted, but it is not reproduced here.
The Serenity Prayer (short form)
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. Amen.
A prayer for acceptance
Lord, there are things in my life I have fought against for a long time, and I am tired. Some of them will not change no matter how hard I push. Help me stop wrestling with what is already out of my hands. Give me the quiet strength to accept it without becoming bitter, and the trust to believe you are still at work in it. Let my peace rest on you, not on getting my own way. Amen.
A prayer for courage to change what I can
Father, I know there are things I could change and keep putting off. A habit I need to break, a conversation I need to have, a step I am afraid to take. Give me courage to stop waiting for the perfect moment. Help me do the next right thing today, even if it is small and even if I feel afraid. Stay with me as I take it, and pick me up if I stumble. Amen.
A prayer for wisdom to know the difference
God, I do not always know which battles are mine to fight. Sometimes I try to control what I should release, and sometimes I give up on what I should keep working at. Give me clear eyes and an honest heart. Send wise people to speak into my life, and help me listen. Teach me to bring each worry to you first, and to wait long enough to hear what you are saying. Amen.
Scripture to pray with
I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13 (BSB)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (BSB)
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 (BSB)
To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (BSB)
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (BSB)
You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3 (BSB)
Questions people ask
Who wrote the Serenity Prayer?
The Serenity Prayer is usually attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr, an American theologian, who is thought to have used it in sermons and prayers in the 1930s. Researchers have found similar wording from around the same period, so its exact origin and first form are still debated. Niebuhr himself is widely credited with making it known.
Is the Serenity Prayer in the Bible?
No, the Serenity Prayer is not a Bible passage, but its themes run all through Scripture. James 1:5 invites us to ask God for wisdom, Philippians 4:11-13 speaks of learning contentment in every circumstance, and Joshua 1:9 calls God's people to be strong and courageous because he is with them.
Why is the Serenity Prayer used in recovery groups?
Many people working through addiction and recovery have found the Serenity Prayer helpful because it names a daily struggle so simply: letting go of what cannot be controlled and taking responsibility for what can. It has been prayed in recovery settings for decades and is valued by people of many backgrounds.
Is there a longer version of the Serenity Prayer?
Yes, a longer version is sometimes quoted, with further lines about living one day at a time and trusting God. Its wording varies between sources and its history is less certain, so this page shares only the familiar short form, along with new prayers written on the same themes.
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Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which is in the public domain.