The Serenity Prayer — calm, readable, and complete

Whether you searched for “Serenity Prayer,” “serenety prayer,” “God grant me serenity,” or you simply want the words fast—this page gives you every major version with one‑click copy.

Most popular Used in 12‑step recovery and beyond
Attribution: widely used in Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve‑step fellowships.
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All major versions (copy in one click)

AA Short Form
12‑step | Widely quoted
Official use
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.
Niebuhr (post‑1951 variant)
Includes “grace” and “distinguish”
Historically attested
God, give me grace 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.
Reinhold Niebuhr, later published form; reference to “grace” not found before 1951 in known printings.
Classic single‑sentence
Matches Niebuhr’s single‑sentence style
Historically attested
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
1933 (Winnifred Wygal)
The Woman’s Press / Santa Cruz Sentinel
Early printing
Oh, God, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what can not be helped, and insight to know the one from the other.
Attributed in print to the context of Niebuhr’s line; published by YWCA leader Winnifred Wygal in 1933.
1940 (Wygal)
We Plan Our Own Worship Services
Early printing
O God, give us the serenity to accept what cannot be changed, the courage to change what can be changed, and the wisdom to know the one from the other.
1950 (NYT Book Review)
Anglican phrasing; attributed to Niebuhr
Historical citation
O God and Heavenly Father, Grant to us the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed; courage to change that which can be changed, and wisdom to know the one from the other, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Extended form (12‑step common)
Adds “Living one day at a time…”
Common use
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.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as He did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that He will make all things right,
If I surrender to His will,
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
Note: These added clauses are widely used in recovery settings but are not part of Niebuhr’s original tripartite sentence.
Inclusive (group “we”)
Adaptation for group recitation
Adaptation
God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Modern adaptation; faithful to meaning, not a historical printing.
Secular (non‑theistic)
Adaptation for any belief
Adaptation
May I find the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Adaptation often used in secular mindfulness and recovery communities.
Looking for specific punctuation or capitalization? Use search (e.g., “distinguish,” “grace,” “O God,” “Amen”).

Meaning: why these words endure

The Serenity Prayer distills resilient living into three moves:

People recite it for recovery, grief, decision‑making, and daily sanity. Believers hear a prayer; secular readers hear a principle. Either way, it’s a compact philosophy of action and acceptance.

History and authorship (short timeline)

Early 1930s — Protestant theologian Reinhold Niebuhr uses the prayer in longer form; it spreads informally, often without attribution.
Oct 31, 1932 — YWCA official Winnifred Wygal notes a related line in her diary: “the serenity to accept what he cannot help and the courage to change what must be altered.”
Mar 1933 — Wygal publishes a version in The Woman’s Press; the Santa Cruz Sentinel (front page) shares it soon after: “Oh, God, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what can not be helped, and insight to know the one from the other.”
1937–1940 — The prayer appears in Christian student publications; Wygal prints another form in her 1940 book (attributing to Niebuhr): “O God, give us the serenity…”
1941 — Printed in a New York Herald Tribune obituary; Alcoholics Anonymous encounters and embraces it, popularizing the short form.
1943–1944 — Niebuhr includes the prayer in sermons and a wartime prayer book; cards are printed for U.S. soldiers.
1950 — The New York Times Book Review prints an Anglican‑style version and attributes it to Niebuhr.
1951 — Niebuhr publishes the prayer in a magazine column; the familiar sentence form becomes standard. Later variants include “grace … accept with serenity.”
1960s–present — The prayer appears on cards, plaques, and in recovery literature. Scholars continue to discuss Wygal’s role in shaping early printings.

Sources include: Niebuhr’s sermons and publications; YWCA publications by Winnifred Wygal; newspaper archives; AA literature; and overviews such as the Wikipedia entry and The New Yale Book of Quotations (2021).

FAQ

What’s the “full” Serenity Prayer?
The term “full” often refers to the extended lines beginning “Living one day at a time…,” which are widely used in recovery but not part of Niebuhr’s original sentence. See the “Extended form” card above.
Which version is original?
Niebuhr’s versions were printed as a single prose sentence. Early published forms appeared via YWCA channels in the 1930s, with wording variations. The exact “original” wording differs across early sources.
Is it okay to adapt the wording?
Communities often adapt the prayer (e.g., “we/us,” secular phrasing). If you need a historically attested form, use one of the “Official” cards above.
How should I cite it?
Commonly cited as “Reinhold Niebuhr.” If you are referencing historical printings or academic work, mention early YWCA publications and ongoing authorship discussion.

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Sources and further reading (external links)

To keep things transparent, we share links to respected sources you can check out for more details.

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