Dear Children of God,
Grace and peace to you, in Jesus Christ.
We are living in a very different and difficult time. Perhaps, like me, you are feeling a bit off-balance. Current events are providing us with so much information to process. We are concerned about loved ones, neighbors, and church family. We are worried about our communities and country too. Who is in the right and who is in the wrong? How should I feel and what should I think about all that is happening in our country right now? It can be overwhelming.
Prayer is important always but especially in times like these. So, for today’s message I have chosen to share some thoughts on the Serenity Prayer. It was written by American theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr, and has been a mainstay of Alcoholics Anonymous and other Twelve Step programs. This prayer has much to offer to anyone feeling overwhelmed with life.
God grant me the serenity
The peace of mind and spirit I so desperately seek must start with God. In the darkness I am in need of his light. In the midst of the turmoil I yearn for him to create space for me to be confident and at ease. In these tumultuous and confusing times, I recognize that only by the grace of God can I stay right-minded.
To accept the things I cannot change;
Acceptance doesn’t mean approval. It does mean understanding. It helps me to understand that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and nothing lies within my power to change that reality. I have learned over the years what God’s word teaches, that no person is perfect, no country is perfect, no human system is perfect. I am powerless to change the basic flaw in human nature which is sin. I am powerless to change how sin manifests itself in every aspect of life. I am humbled by my powerlessness.
Courage to change the things I can;
Courage is the strength to love the way Jesus loves; unconditionally, selflessly, and sacrificially. Love is of God and love is what changes things for the better. Love sees the universal flaws in people, countries, and systems, and responds by doing the right thing. The right thing is to constructively address that which is wrong.
And wisdom to know the difference.
It is important for me to understand that I am powerless to do anything perfectly. It is equally important for me to understand that I am powerful in my ability to seek change through love. This is the key to maintaining my wits about me in a trying time.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;
Jesus said, “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:34) To make life manageable, “don’t bite off more than you can chew.” Today’s trouble is a full plate all by itself. Tomorrow cannot be lived today, so focus on the present and strive to find joy in the moment.
The joy of gratitude is a strong medicine when we seem overwhelmed with the brokenness of life. God always gives our clouds a silver lining for which we can give thanks. The Blessing Project from earlier in the pandemic period was a stellar testimony to the God who is with us and for us at all times without fail. Always be watchful for the blessings of God who is present in all of your moments, especially the painful ones.
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Peace is what our hearts desire but it rarely comes without paying a significant price. That price typically involves suffering. It has been said that “the reward of suffering is experience.” Hardship is a teacher. (Perhaps you have heard of the school of hard knocks!) In experiencing hardship, we learn that we are resilient and can survive. We learn that we can grow. We learn that we are not alone. St. Paul says that from our suffering we learn that God loves us and is leading us to a place of peace. (Romans 5:3-5)
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make things right
If I surrender to His Will;
Think about these words as if they are being said by Jesus and that he is speaking of the Father. Contemplate Jesus on the night of his arrest as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. In agony, Jesus surrendered to the Father’s will that Jesus give his life as a ransom for all. Implicit in this surrender is the faith that God will make things right.
God took a sinful world at face value and loved it nevertheless. The Father gave his only Son to die for us. The death of Jesus was the price for the world’s release from the bondage of sin. Sinners are made right in the blood of Jesus. The Savior who experienced a wrongful death, was vindicated in his resurrection from the dead. Redeemed sinners have been invited to share in his righteousness and in his victory over death.
In the example of Jesus, we learn that the powerless experience power in surrendering to the will of God because God rights wrongs.
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.
The “pursuit of happiness” is embedded in the American dream. It turns out that the pursuit is only successful because we have a pursuer. The Holy Spirit has been unleashed in the world and is calling and gathering people to Jesus. God is daily teaching us that true happiness and peace is found in learning from Jesus, living with Jesus, and loving like Jesus.
Surrendering to the will of God is critical to enjoying a reasonably happy life. This side of death, even happiness is imperfect. But, oh, on the other side perfect happiness and serenity will be ours.
Amen.
Let it be so, Lord.
The Lord bless you, keep you, and give you peace,
Pastor Bill