How many times have we heard, or even said, “It is what it is”? That’s fatalism. That’s thinking there’s no way to change our circumstances, ourselves, or even our future—so why try? Good news—it doesn’t have to stay that way!

How does fatalism that affect our mindset, our feelings, our relationships, our leadership, our actions? Remember, belief leads to behavior.

Imagine these scenarios:

“This organization stinks! But it is what it is.”

“My work is so meaningless I’m bored to death! But it is what it is.”

“My marriage has gone down the drain! Oh well, it is what it is.”

“Our team is so dysfunctional! Guess I’ll have to put up with that—it is what it is.”

“Our finances are a wreck! Look at all this debt! It is what it is.”

“I have a terrible temper! That’s who I am. It is what it is.”

What do all these have in common? Whoever says them isn’t going to do anything about them. They’ve already convinced themselves not only that “it is what it is”, but it’s also the way it always will be. So, they stay stuck.

But they, and we, never have to stay stuck anywhere or with anything!

Things can change. We can change. Our organizations can change. How do we know? By past history and looking around us—it’s evident that things have changed, do change, and will change, often for the better. Sometimes that seemingly “just happens”, without our or anyone else’s intervention although if it’s good, the Lord has had a hand in it somehow, even if it’s from natural causes or the passing of time. Other times, we or someone else act in ways that bring about desired change. Finally, there are those times where the Lord clearly intervenes in ways that are obvious, which we call miracles.

Evil governments ruled by dictators and despots fall. Healing happens. Scientific discoveries and technological advancements enable us to do so much never imagined or thought possible before. Breakthroughs break onto the scene, altering our lives and the lives of others for the better. These changes then cause a ripple effect, not only in the breadth of scope in who benefits, but in time, generation to generation, altering history and destinies, both personal and communal.

Let’s look at some examples:

~In the days of the Roman Empire, the Third Reich, the Iron Curtain, etc., people said “It is what it is”. Which it was. But today, no one is ruled by Caesar, no one has to heil Hitler, and the Iron Curtain has fallen so that former Communist-puppet countries enjoy freedom of speech, religion, and real elections. Sure, new evil dictators and governments have arisen, but past history should encourage us that they won’t last forever.

~The Israelites who lived under the oppression of slavery for over 400 years did finally get delivered by the Lord’s hand at the Red Sea, left Egypt, and became a sovereign nation. (see the Books of Exodus through Joshua in the Bible). Though they got taken into captivity and later subjected to foreign rule, they were again delivered, and today they are again a sovereign nation.

~Alcoholics and other addicts who have overcome alcoholism/addictions, with the help of God and others. So that their lives and marriages and families have been restored. It was as it was, with the all the misery that alcoholism/addiction causes. Until it wasn’t anymore, because of the change.

~People stuck in dead-end, meaningless, jobs who woke up one day and said, “It doesn’t have to keep being this way!” They took initiative, got further training, and did whatever they needed to either get more meaningful work, or make their current work more meaningful.

~Those who realized they didn’t have to stay in bad shape and health, so they started exercising, eating right, and getting enough rest. Every before-and-after picture is proof that “it is what it is” doesn’t have to stay that way!

~Everyone walked everywhere before they invented the wheel and discovered they could ride on certain animals. Then came horse-drawn buggies. Then came “horseless carriages”. Along with boats, trains, bikes, and buses, and finally that invention that gave us artificial wings, the airplane. Inventors invent with the mindset of “It doesn’t have to stay that way.”

~Anyone who’s ever been bullied, abused, and rejected in childhood, and discovers they’re not weaklings, victims, or rejects. Therapists, others who care, and the Lord, all help them discover this. Those who make that discovery become the wounded, compassionate, empathetic, authentic, healers who guide others into that same discovery.

Further proof abounds, including every miracle recorded in the Bible, that even though many things are impossible for people, “With men, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Mat. 19:26

It is what it is—for now—but it never is as it can be, once we see the possibilities for change!

Believe that! Imagine that! Discover ways to make that happen! Act on those ways!

After all, where would the butterflies be if they all stayed in their cocoons saying, “it is what it is?”

For we Americans, who’ve just celebrated Independence Day July 4^th, imagine how life, our country, and the world would be if those folks in the thirteen colonies had settled for “It is what it is” instead of signing the Declaration of Independence and fighting for it.

Finally, what if the Lord had said “It is what it is” about us and our fallen world? Thankfully, He didn’t, and Jesus came to intervene and set us free!

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Gal. 5:1

With His help, let’s make “It is what it is” into “It will be what it can and should be”.

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,..” Eph. 3:20