The Serenity Prayer

Who wrote the Serenity Prayer?

The prayer is credited to American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, who used an early form of it in a sermon in the early 1930s. Alcoholics Anonymous adopted a shortened version in the 1940s, and it has since been prayed in nearly every recovery room, church, and quiet kitchen in the world.

What each line means

“Serenity to accept the things I cannot change.”

Other people. The past. The diagnosis. The choices someone you love is making right now. Acceptance isn’t approval — it’s releasing your grip so God can hold what you were never meant to carry.

“Courage to change the things I can.”

Your next honest sentence. Your next meeting. The text you send or don’t send. Courage is rarely loud — most days it’s just doing the next right thing while your hands are still shaking.

“Wisdom to know the difference.”

Wisdom is what keeps you from exhausting yourself trying to fix what isn’t yours, and from numbing out when something actually is. Ask for it daily — James 1:5 says God gives it generously.

Is the Serenity Prayer biblical?

The exact words aren’t in Scripture, but the heart of the prayer is. It echoes Philippians 4:6–7 (anxious for nothing), Proverbs 3:5–6 (trust in the Lord with all your heart), and Matthew 6:34 (do not worry about tomorrow). It’s a prayer for people who have run out of their own strength — which is exactly where God meets us.

How to pray it daily

1. Morning. Pray it slowly before your feet hit the floor. Name one thing in each category — one thing to accept, one to change, one you need wisdom about.
2. Mid-day reset. When you feel the spiral start, whisper just the first line: “God, grant me the serenity…” Breathe.
3. Night. Pray the long version. Let the line “accepting hardship as a pathway to peace” land before you sleep.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Serenity Prayer?

The Serenity Prayer is a short Christian prayer asking God for serenity to accept what cannot be changed, courage to change what can be changed, and wisdom to know the difference. It was written by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the early 1930s and became widely used in 12-step recovery programs.

Who wrote the Serenity Prayer?

Reinhold Niebuhr, an American Protestant theologian, is credited with writing the Serenity Prayer in the early 1930s. Alcoholics Anonymous adopted a shortened version in the 1940s, which is how most people know it today.

What is the full long version of the Serenity Prayer?

The long version continues: 'Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.'

Is the Serenity Prayer in the Bible?

The exact words are not in the Bible, but the prayer reflects biblical truth — particularly Philippians 4:6-7, Proverbs 3:5-6, and Matthew 6:34. It draws on Scripture's repeated call to trust God, release control, and live one day at a time.