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.

Dear God, as I was driving to work yesterday, this is the prayer that kept coming to me. I prayed it out loud in my truck. I prayed it silently in my office. I have some things in my life that I would love to see changed, but I have zero power to change them. I’ve done my best. I’ve petitioned. I’ve tried to express love. I’ve tried to communicate perspective. But it is now clear to me that I have nothing left to do but seek your serenity in the situation.

There are people who have broken my heart. There are people who have really hurt me. Interestingly, when I’ve expressed my hurt, I’ve seen no signs of remorse. Zero. Not even a little area where they could admit fault and we could start to find common ground. It feels like their hearts have been hardened and they cannot allow themselves to consider even one thing they might have done wrong because as soon as they do they will be on the slippery slope and have to examine everything else too.

Of course, it’s easy for me to see this in someone else. What about me? Is my heart hardened? Is my anger and sense of betrayal of my own making? If someone has come to me with something they think I’ve done wrong, have I been willing to examine it and repent as appropriate?

Father, as I type this prayer this morning, I want to pray the Serenity Prayer for me and for the people on my heart right now.

God, grant me (them) the serenity to accept the things I (they) cannot change, the courage to change they things I (they) can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

I pray this through Jesus, my Lord,

Amen