This prayer is known to and has been repeated among millions in 12-Step recovery programs throughout the world who are fighting for their sobriety and to experience deliverance from addictions, particularly from drug & alcohol abuse and dependence. What some may not know is that the Serenity Prayer is actually a Christian confession of faith, surrender, and obedience. It was originally written in 1932/1933 by American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.
One of the reasons why I believe the Serenity Prayer remains very well-known and rehearsed by millions of people dealing with difficulties of any and every kind is because it compels us to do one of the things that God requires most from us: surrender. There are some trials, situations, and circumstances that are just too big, too complicated, too overwhelming, too _ (you can fill in the blank) for us to fix on our own. When our own efforts, solutions, and resources continue to come up short and don’t fix whatever it is we’re facing, God actually allows these things to be ineffective on purpose. In these instances, God doesn’t want to use another person, place, or thing to bring about your breakthrough. God is up to something greater in these moments. He wants to intervene directly as part of His Kingdom Agenda and plan for you.
An example of this process is in John 5 w the disabled man at the pool of Bethesda. This passage is rich with implications for how and why we see Jesus Christ interact with humanity like He does as part of God’s kingdom plans for us. But, I want you to notice a few things here. This man sat at the pool for 38 years waiting on his healing. John 5:7 tells us that there wasn’t anyone in 38 years who could put him in the pool to be healed. 38 years is a long time to have a problem and to not have sufficient help to solve the problem. More importantly, what this shows us is that God didn’t allow anyone to come along to help fix his situation because God wanted to intervene directly.
God told me a few days ago: Either you’re going to continue to try and fix things your way and continue to come up short OR you’re going to surrender, move out of the way, and let me do this. But, it’s not going to and can’t be both.
Today, I encourage you to move out of the way. SURRENDER!!!! Say the Serenity Prayer in faith and get ready to see God move. Remember, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30)