What Does Serenity Mean? | Serenity Prayer

If you have participated in a recovery program, such as AA, NA, or Celebrate Recovery, you are likely familiar with the Serenity Prayer. Often said at the end of a meeting, this prayer is meant to refocus those in recovery on their Higher Power or, more specifically, God. The Serenity Prayer reminds us that we are powerless on our own and are in need of God’s help in recovery. But how do we take the words of this prayer and apply them to our daily lives? Let’s look at what serenity means and the impact it has on your recovery.

Finding Peace

“When I finally understood the difference between things inside and outside of my control, I began to experience a life characterized by peace.”

Living in a state of serenity guides us towards acceptance, courage, and wisdom. Serenity is characterized by a state of peace, and the first section of this prayer outlines a pathway to feeling calm despite circumstances. Life is full of uncertainties and things we can’t control, and accepting this helps limit sources of frustration. However, there are times when we have the ability to change aspects of our lives. 

When that is the case, it takes courage to pursue a different path. In recovery, we are striving to make positive changes to better ourselves, but that’s not an easy choice to make. It takes strength from God to alter our ingrained habits. We also need wisdom to differentiate between the things we can and cannot change. If we spend our energy trying to resolve situations outside of our control, we only set ourselves up for disappointment and frustration. Asking God for guidance in determining areas we can shift our thinking or behavior ultimately sets us on a path toward serenity.

Serenity by Living in the Moment

“I spent so much of my life worried about the things I did in my past and what may come in the future. I didn’t realize how much this affected my ability to appreciate what was in front of me.”

Anxiety is rooted in a fear of the future, and depression is a negative focus on events of the past. Living life outside of the present moment creates an opportunity for negative emotions to take hold of our lives. It’s a natural desire to plan for the future or look forward to things coming up in life. But this focus can prevent us from seeing the positive things in our present lives. Similarly, we all have done or experienced things in the past that stick with us. While it’s important to process through and make amends for our past, dwelling on those thoughts and experiences inhibits our appreciation of the good of today and keeps us from true serenity.

Serenity in Trusting God

“I thought I trusted God to make right the wrongs in the world, but I often found myself taking matters into my own hands.”

Since the Garden of Eden, sin has been an unfortunate reality in the world we live in. Living in a sinful world means there is a continual battle between good and evil, and we rarely have control over these forces. While we make choices daily based on what we believe to be right, God gave everyone the ability to choose if they will pursue a path of righteousness. Unfortunately, there will be many people who decide to live a life guided by selfish desires, and this can negatively affect us. Serenity comes when we are willing to put our trust in God and believe that he will make all things right in His time. When we are hurt by someone, it’s easy to want to seek out personal justice. While there are times when this is legally necessary, in other moments, God may be asking us to trust His sovereignty.

Finding Happiness

“I know that even my most joyful moments pale in comparison to the true happiness found in eternal life.”

When you think about a joyful memory in your life, you may remember time spent with family, a new job or home, a wedding, or the birth of a child. These moments can bring a level of happiness and serenity you may have never experienced before. It might even feel like life couldn’t get any better than what you felt at that time. Those feelings tend to fade over time, despite our best efforts to preserve the memories, and we wait for the next pivotal experience. Our happiness on earth can last despite circumstances, but even the happiest events in life can’t compare to the pure joy available to us in the Kingdom of God. This hope we have for our future comes when we are willing to surrender our desires to God and allow Him to have control over our lives. When we pursue a life surrendered to Him, we experience serenity unlike anything we have ever known before.

Serenity in Recovery

Living a life dedicated to recovery will bring challenges. There are going to be things outside of your control and hardships that come your way. As you navigate the path toward sobriety, you may feel overwhelmed by the road ahead. At Celebrate Hope, we provide the support you need to achieve and maintain your sobriety, rooted in the hope of Christ. Our faith-based addiction treatment center in Orange County, California allows you to address the root issues related to your substance use disorder both in individual and group settings. If you’re looking for a rehab experience where faith is an integral part of your healing, contact us today. 

Further Reading:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The Origin of the Serenity Prayer: A Historical Paper. Reviewed July 30, 2009.

What Does the Bible Say About Drinking?

Excessive drinking, or drunkenness, is a common theme in the Bible and is consistently a topic of concern amongst the writers of the Old and New Testaments. As we recognize Alcohol Awareness Month in April, let’s take a look at some of what the Bible has to say about the overconsumption of alcohol. 

What is Drunkenness?

Drunkenness is defined as drinking alcohol to a level of intoxication or in excess. This was a common issue during the times that the Bible was written because of how readily available alcohol was. Often, clean drinking water was a challenge to acquire, but alcohol helped remove some of the impurities in the water. As such, wine was often consumed at gatherings, and the overconsumption of alcohol became an issue seen throughout society as is seen in the writings of the Old and New Testament. This was such a common concern that multiple writers across scripture covered the topic.

Drinking in the Bible

One of the main reasons for the continual acknowledgement of the issue of drinking is because of the effects this can have on your spiritual life. Ephesians 5:18 says, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” Our spirits have a natural desire to be filled, and the things of this world can easily come before God. By allowing our time and resources to become consumed by alcohol, we leave no room for the Spirit of God to move in our lives. Choosing to drink and become drunk creates a temporary feeling that attempts to replace the need we have for God, but God is truly the only thing that can fulfill us.

The Bible also issues many warnings about engaging in a lifestyle of drunkenness. Because of how common the overconsumption of alcohol was, this became part of a large number of people’s daily lives. The book of Proverbs is known for the wisdom and guidance it provides and has provided for those throughout history. Proverbs 20:1 addresses the issue of drinking in a way that would have been hard to argue with. It says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” Too many have been overtaken by the desire to drink, especially to the point of becoming drunk, and Solomon, the writer of Proverbs, warns those who allow drinking to become any source of guidance or influence on their lives that this will only lead them astray.

  

Writers in the New Testament continued to see this issue prevail in their society, so many used their writings to discuss this topic as well. Galatians 5: 21 says, “Envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” No longer is this an issue of “good” or “bad” choices; Paul argues that a lifestyle of engaging in drunkenness can prevent someone from spending eternity with God. While, ultimately, Jesus will make judgements on who can enter the Kingdom of God, this is a strong warning and something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

Avoiding a Lifestyle of Drinking

Because of the prevalence of drinking in society both during Bible times and today, it can be challenging to not engage in this culture. This becomes even more of a challenge when our closest friends and family are participating in excessive drinking practices. To help set yourself up for success, here are a few tips on how you can pursue a lifestyle that avoids drinking:

1. Surround yourself with people who are supportive of your choices. Whether these people choose to pursue a life without drinking or not, it’s vital that you have a support system who will encourage you to maintain your commitment. 
2. Find alternative hobbies and activities you enjoy. One of the biggest challenges people face when living a sober lifestyle is feeling left out of the social aspects related to drinking. Spend some time finding activities that don’t involve drinking, such as bowling, fitness classes, or hiking, and bring friends along who can enjoy these with you.
3. Find your “why”. Understanding why we are making the lifestyle choices we are provides a foundation for long-term success. Spend time seeking out more of what the Bible says about drinking and it’s impacts to solidify your rationale for a life without drinking. 

Help for Alcohol Addiction

If you’re struggling with overconsumption of alcohol or an alcohol addiction, there is hope for you. You are never too far gone to make the decision to change, and Celebrate Hope is here to help. Our faith-based alcohol addiction rehab helps you build a life of recovery on the foundation of Christ and his forgiveness. If you’re ready to take the next step in receiving help for your addiction, contact us today.