“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.”

It’s not easy to let go and accept the things we can’t change, and sometimes it’s even harder to change the things that need to be changed; and harder yet, is to have the wisdom to be able to distinguish between the two.   Wisdom is the key to living a successful life and if you don’t have it, the good news is all you need to do is ask God for it.  God will not hold back.  He has promised that if you ask for wisdom, He will give it to you.  The Bible tells us that wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy.  You know when you have wisdom.  Some people describe it as that gut feeling you have deep inside that is directing you on what you should or should not do.  It’s been said that wisdom is a lifetime of listening when you would rather have been talking.

Wisdom begins with prayer.  When challenges come in your life, the first person you should talk to is God.  God not only hears your prayers but He will answer your prayers.  God will speak to you through a word from another person you trust.  God will also make sure you hear a certain sermon, or song that will minister to your soul and you will immediately recognize that it was not just coincidence.  Pray daily.  Make God a part of your personal life every day and ask Him to get involved in everything you are involved in and you will feel His presence because He is faithful.

Often, God makes us wait and it is not an easy thing to wait upon the Lord.  It is difficult but it is also rewarding.  Waiting is not a waste of time.  It is for your benefit.  Know that God is working behind the scenes not only on the matters that concern you but He is also working on you.  Over time, you will discover that the things that use to bother you no longer bother you.  You will discover that your compassion for others has grown.  You are able to see the little things going on all around you and it is all making you into a gentle and loving person.

Wisdom will also help you to accept what God allows to happen in your life.  In this life we will have trouble so says the Word of God.  You cannot get angry at God because He let trouble come your way.  Wisdom will help you to understand all things will work together for your good.  Your part in trouble is to be faithful to God and trust Him.  Surrender everything to Him and know that God has not stopped loving you, but it is because He loves you, He will turn things around for your good.  When you are able to say as a child of God “not my will but your will be done” you have obtained wisdom that will enable you to live a victorious life.

God wants you to be happy and fulfilled and the only way to do that is to have wisdom, pray, learn to wait on God and to accept what God allows into your life. Then, you will be able to accept the things you cannot change; change the things you can and be able to know the difference.