It Is What It Is

 

by Kristen Franklin

It is what it is.

This statement may be a new favorite of mine. I recently shared a little bit about our move debacle from the fall. It truly was one of the hardest times of my adult life and it was compounded by the fact that God was also rooting out some other junk in my heart in regards to my identity, my relationships, and my world in general. Through different conversations, I kept hearing, “It is what it is.”

The more I heard it, the more it resonated with me. The more I heard it, the more I realized how simple, yet powerful a statement it was.  Let me be clear, the power of these words was not when they were spoken in a flippant way of resignation or withdrawal. The power of these five words was in the fact that they stripped the emotion and the personal issues away from situations. By removing these things, it seemed easier for my heart and mind to be at the place of simple surrender and dependence on my savior.

From that posture, I  was able to give a God directed response, not a response clouded by my hurts, joys, pride, or confusion. It removed the analyzing and over thinking.

There was no judgment of myself or others. There was no trying to decipher the level of God’s presence or what he was trying to tell us through our circumstances. There was no fear of what will be withheld based on our level of sacrifice nor an expectation of blessing  based on our level of faith.  I was just able to see the circumstances for what they were, nothing more and nothing less.

Let me say it in a different way.

We don’t have to stay angry or keep having imaginary conversations with the friend who hurt us.

We don’t have to tell ALL of our friends about what happened just to get their perspective.

“God, since my heart is safe with you, how would you have me respond to my friend?”

We don’t have to be afraid that we are missing the signs that God is sending us.

“God, you say I can cease striving and know that you are God. You’ll let me know when I need to know and I don’t have to be working so hard to figure this out.”

We don’t have to berate ourselves thinking we didn’t trust enough or give enough or do enough when something goes wrong.

“God, you have a plan for my life and I can trust you. Be patient through me as I wait on you.”

This can also go the other way.

We don’t have to think that we must be a better mom than that lady whose little boy keeps running through the store and she won’t get off the phone.

“God, you know I am one moment away from being a hot mess. As Joy reminded us, whatever we are, it is only because of your grace.”

I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. The freedom that comes with surrender and dependence is life giving and as a mom, I need all the life I can get. I want to be around other people who themselves are refreshed and thus are refreshing to be around. I want to be around people who experience emotions but who aren’t driven by whichever emotional wind is blowing that day.

What about you? What is something stirring in your heart right now?