The Wisdom to Know the Difference

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5-6

I pray these words, stories, and moments of grace in my life bless yours.

Having a husband who’s a recovering alcoholic has taught me more about myself than I ever expected. Over the past seven and a half months, I’ve learned lessons about my motives, beliefs, and even my habits—many of which I didn’t want to confront.

One of the biggest lessons came during a conversation with my husband when he looked me dead in the eye and said, “Summer, there are things you simply cannot change.”

He was quoting the Serenity Prayer:

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

How could I argue with that? Genuinely—how do you argue with a recovering alcoholic about a prayer that’s helping him get through each day? I didn’t. I just rolled my eyes, mumbled something under my breath, and walked away.

But then, one day, it hit me like a ton of bricks. That prayer isn’t just for people in recovery. It’s for all of us. As a mom, as a wife, as a woman, it suddenly became clear to me why this prayer is so important.

I’ve spent so much of my life trying to change the things I cannot change. I’ve exhausted myself wrestling with my past—things that were done to me, decisions I regret, words I wish I could take back. All the while, I’ve often neglected the things I can change: my habits, my words moving forward, my actions, my relationships, and my attitude.

That’s when I realized the power of this prayer. The wisdom to know the difference is everything. It’s the key to living a life of peace and purpose. It’s the grace to let go of what’s behind you and the courage to step into the changes God is calling you to make.

My husband’s wisdom and kindness in reciting this prayer have been a reminder of God’s gift of free will. Just like in the Garden of Eden, we are free to choose. We can’t undo the past, but we can choose how we live today and tomorrow.

We can change how we speak to those we love.

We can change how we respond to life’s challenges.

We can change how we spend our time and where we place our focus.

This is such a beautiful reminder that God doesn’t leave us powerless. He gives us His wisdom, His guidance, and His strength. And with that, we can step forward into a life that reflects His peace and purpose.

My prayer: 

Lord, thank You for Your grace and the gift of free will. Help me to release the things I cannot change and to trust You with the past. Give me the courage to change the things I can, and fill me with the wisdom to know the difference.

Teach me to lean on You daily, to walk in Your peace, and to make choices that reflect Your love and purpose for my life. Thank You for always being with me, guiding me, and showing me the way forward.

In Jesus’ name, amen.