...to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things which should be changed,
And the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
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.
The first few lines of this prayer are widely recognized as that which is used by Alcoholics Anonymous in their 12 step programs. But that short three-liner is a modification of the original prayer which is shown in its entirety above.
I have just discovered that the full prayer, prior to being adopted by AA and other similar groups, was actually written circa 1941 during war time by Reinhold Neibuhr, an American theologian, "who included the prayer in a sermon at least as early as 1943, followed closely by its inclusion in a Federal Council of Churches (FCC) book for army chaplains and servicemen in 1944." [Wikipedia]
I love the full prayer version and I find it applicable to facing hardships in everyday life today, yet it would obviously be equally applicable during time of war or when dealing with addictions that have dug down deeply into our being.
I have taken this prayer and jotted down in my journal the things that I cannot change in my life (certain health issues, location, financial situations, relationships, etc.) along with the things that I can change by the Lord's grace (the words I speak, poor habits, faithless thinking, all the things that might have affected those things listed under "things I cannot change").
I have found all of this very helpful to me in trying to grab onto a lifeline that will perhaps prevent me from drowning altogether from sorrow that seems to come at me in waves; waves with strong currents that pull my feet out from under me. I get back up on my feet only to have another wave come along (as waves will do) and pull my feet out from under me again. Those suffering sorrow or pain, whether emotional or physical, will understand what I am saying.
Which is why I love the remaining portion of the prayer as much as the first portion, and find it a shame that it has been rather neglected.
Life, no matter what sorrow or pain accompanies it, no matter how burdened with the effort simply to survive in this world that is growing more sinful every day, is better lived "one day at a time". Jesus says this very thing in Matthew 6:34:
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
There is sufficient trouble to deal with today, without increasing my burden exponentially by adding tomorrow's troubles and the next day's to it, and so on. It is good to be reminded to keep my focus on today alone.
Then there is that part of the prayer that says "accepting hardship as a pathway to peace."
Definitely, there are hardships to be endured during times of war, the time during which this prayer was written. But I see it as applicable to my life because I see hardship as a natural by-product of the narrow way to peace and life with the Lord ["strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14] as compared to the ease which is found on the broad road that leads us away from the Lord and to our destruction ["wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat". Matthew 7:13].
And sometimes, when hardships feel especially hard, it is good to be reminded of the reason for being on this path in the first place, as this prayer reminds me: "so that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with you in the next."
It is easy to say all of this; much more difficult to live it out.
That's where another portion of the prayer comes in handy: "trusting that You will make all things right." Thru Jesus we have hope for things to become better, at some point, perhaps then rather than now, but still we know it will get better. And so we wait with expectant hope for Him to change the things that we cannot.
Our waiting for Him to change what we cannot is the "surrender" part of the prayer and it comes with great blessing:
Without His grace renewing our strength, we would be carried away by the strong currents of that which seeks to consume us, whether it be worry, sorrow, pain, grief, addictions, war, or...whatever it is that is knocking your feet out from under you today. We need Jesus more than ever in the face of great hardship or suffering.
Or, as Jesus put it:
It is only through His grace that we will live...and survive...whatever hardship comes our way.
I hope this prayer is as encouraging to you as it is to me. Amen Reinhold!
Courage to change the things which should be changed,
And the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
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.
The first few lines of this prayer are widely recognized as that which is used by Alcoholics Anonymous in their 12 step programs. But that short three-liner is a modification of the original prayer which is shown in its entirety above.
I have just discovered that the full prayer, prior to being adopted by AA and other similar groups, was actually written circa 1941 during war time by Reinhold Neibuhr, an American theologian, "who included the prayer in a sermon at least as early as 1943, followed closely by its inclusion in a Federal Council of Churches (FCC) book for army chaplains and servicemen in 1944." [Wikipedia]
I love the full prayer version and I find it applicable to facing hardships in everyday life today, yet it would obviously be equally applicable during time of war or when dealing with addictions that have dug down deeply into our being.
I have taken this prayer and jotted down in my journal the things that I cannot change in my life (certain health issues, location, financial situations, relationships, etc.) along with the things that I can change by the Lord's grace (the words I speak, poor habits, faithless thinking, all the things that might have affected those things listed under "things I cannot change").
I have found all of this very helpful to me in trying to grab onto a lifeline that will perhaps prevent me from drowning altogether from sorrow that seems to come at me in waves; waves with strong currents that pull my feet out from under me. I get back up on my feet only to have another wave come along (as waves will do) and pull my feet out from under me again. Those suffering sorrow or pain, whether emotional or physical, will understand what I am saying.
Which is why I love the remaining portion of the prayer as much as the first portion, and find it a shame that it has been rather neglected.
Life, no matter what sorrow or pain accompanies it, no matter how burdened with the effort simply to survive in this world that is growing more sinful every day, is better lived "one day at a time". Jesus says this very thing in Matthew 6:34:
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
There is sufficient trouble to deal with today, without increasing my burden exponentially by adding tomorrow's troubles and the next day's to it, and so on. It is good to be reminded to keep my focus on today alone.
Then there is that part of the prayer that says "accepting hardship as a pathway to peace."
Definitely, there are hardships to be endured during times of war, the time during which this prayer was written. But I see it as applicable to my life because I see hardship as a natural by-product of the narrow way to peace and life with the Lord ["strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14] as compared to the ease which is found on the broad road that leads us away from the Lord and to our destruction ["wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat". Matthew 7:13].
And sometimes, when hardships feel especially hard, it is good to be reminded of the reason for being on this path in the first place, as this prayer reminds me: "so that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with you in the next."
It is easy to say all of this; much more difficult to live it out.
That's where another portion of the prayer comes in handy: "trusting that You will make all things right." Thru Jesus we have hope for things to become better, at some point, perhaps then rather than now, but still we know it will get better. And so we wait with expectant hope for Him to change the things that we cannot.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Revelation 7:16-17)
Our waiting for Him to change what we cannot is the "surrender" part of the prayer and it comes with great blessing:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Without His grace renewing our strength, we would be carried away by the strong currents of that which seeks to consume us, whether it be worry, sorrow, pain, grief, addictions, war, or...whatever it is that is knocking your feet out from under you today. We need Jesus more than ever in the face of great hardship or suffering.
Or, as Jesus put it:
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (Matthew 7:24-25)
It is only through His grace that we will live...and survive...whatever hardship comes our way.
I hope this prayer is as encouraging to you as it is to me. Amen Reinhold!
