“It is what it is” is a phrase I keep coming back to these days. I use it when talking about almost anything—rising prices, inflation, people’s attitudes, even churches changing over time. To me, it sums up how we’re living in an age where so much feels outside our control.
Every time I go to the store, prices are higher. Inflation keeps pushing costs up, and wages aren’t rising to match. You can complain about it, but at the end of the day, it is what it is. Lately, I’ve noticed other changes, too. People don’t treat each other the way they used to. There’s less honesty—sometimes it feels like lying has become normal. Even churches, which once seemed like stable centers in our communities, have changed. Things move on, and often not for the better.
Sometimes I get frustrated by how much people refuse to face reality. There’s a tendency to deny what’s right in front of us—whether it’s economic hardship, changing values, or broken systems. Instead of dealing with these problems directly, we pretend they’re not as bad as they seem. But ignoring the truth never solves anything.
That’s where “it is what it is” comes in. The phrase might sound like giving up, but it’s really a call for honesty. Accepting reality is the first step to changing it. If we keep telling ourselves stories or blaming everyone else, nothing improves. We need honest conversations about where we are—whether it’s our finances, our relationships, or our communities.
At the same time, I believe that ultimately, what’s broken isn’t just up to us to fix. Some things are bigger than any one person. I trust that God will sort out what we can’t, in the end. In the meantime, all we can do is look at life straight on and try to deal with it as honestly as possible.
So, the next time you hear me say, “It is what it is,” know that I’m not giving up. As the saying goes, “The cake is baked. It is what it is.” I’m calling things as they are, good or bad, because only by facing reality can we hope to make things better.
