It is what it is.

Wherever I go I hear these words, "It is what it is."  Work, church, home, shopping, parties. And whenever I hear someone say those words the reaction I have that I usually keep to myself is:  That makes sense. Not.  What is that supposed to mean anyway? Or -  wow, way to go deeeeeep.  I hear “It is what it is..." and what I really hear is “I want to accept this but I am having difficulty doing so.” Most often I don’t hear acceptance  – what I really hear is defeat.  Defeat , resignation and frustration over the loss of control over what is going on in our lives. Something bad is happening and we don’t know what to do with it..

I hear it at work, "Boss changed his travel itinerary at the last minute again. Oh, well, it’s just a job...it is what it is."
Translation:  It isn't going to change, I need this job and I am weary of being frustrated over it. .

I hear from people talking about their favorite team, "We did our best, but that was really bad call, oh well, it is what it is."
Translation: I am so disappointed, but it happened, my team lost. I really  don’t want to think or talk about it anymore..."(I will however watch is over and over again on the sports highlights, just in case the ending is different and then of course rehash it Monday morning at work.) 

I hear it from friends, "I really thought he was going to commit, how did I read our relationship so wrongly?  Well, it is what it is."
Translation:  I cannot believe I allowed that to happen again. I don't want to face the reasons why I am in this situation again.  (This is an alternative to the long winded explanation that has the same ending, so why go there?)

I hear it from family members struggling with serious health issues, and they are not getting better.  "Well, it could be worse,  and anyway it is what it is."
Translation: I am very fearful of what is happening, I have no control over this, but I better just count my blessings because I maybe I can feel better about it if I recognize there is always someone in worse shape than me. But the fear.......well, it is what it is.

Even song lyrics:

 Too long we've been denying now we're both tired of trying

We hit a wall and we can't get over it

Nothing left to relive, its water under the bridge

You said it I get it I guess it is what it is. (Lifehouse)

Is our “it is what it is”  peace and acceptance…or resignation and defeat?

We never say this after something good has happened. This over-used saying does not usually have a positive reference.. It is the end of a conversation. It is the sigh, the shrug, the 'whatever', the roll of the eyes, the what’s the point, the I'm over it and you need to get over it, too.  And it is not new to this our world, either. An 18th century theologian and philosopher named Joseph Butler said this in a lecture in 1769:  "Everything is what it is, and not another thing." Brilliant. There is a Facebook page with over 220,000 likes that has the motto, IT IS WHAT IT IS: It is a community dedicated to everyone who has realized that you cannot change life, you do not have control over any of it. .The page is full of forums about the meaningless of life. (I think maybe this page began with Solomon in Ecclesiastes, and it has evolved. He began his Facebook page with “a little about me… "I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind”). It isn’t a community of people working the Serenity prayer into their daily lives…God grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change. It’s most often depressed people expressing their resignation that this is life, you deal with it, then  you die.

Is it peace and acceptance…or resignation and defeat?

How does a Christ follower respond to these 5 little words? When does the saying “It is what it is” mean “I have a quiet peace and recognize it is only in God’s control.”  I think not so much.

Resignation?  Or are we relinquishing what we cannot control? Which is it for you?

So this rookie blogger will conclude with a thank you,God for having all of this messy stuff under control, and giving us a hope and future and peace beyond what we see here.

I’m so very thankful, it isn't just what it is ~ it’s much, much more.

 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “ So that we do not lose heart... though our outer self  is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”