American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr wrote a very powerful prayer in 1932; you may recognize it. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.
The nation was in turmoil when it was written. The Great Depression had a hold on our country, people were out of work, the land turned to dust, and families were starving. Niebuhr was looking for a way to comfort people and give them a sense of direction in a dark time. The Serenity Prayer became that source of comfort and a powerful reminder of what could be done when uncertainty and chaos invade our world
