Why I Don’t Like The Phrase “It Is What It Is”

I’ve never been a fan of the phrase “it is what it is.”
I know people usually mean it as a way to find peace or acceptance,
but every time I hear it, it frustrates me so much.

…Because honestly?
It feels like a cop-out.

“It is what it is” can often sound like acceptance,
but many times it’s just avoidance, dressed up to look wise.
It’s what we say when we don’t want to dig deeper,
when we don’t want to sit with conviction, take responsibility,
or admit that something needs to change.

And I think that’s dangerous.

In a world that already loves to blur the lines between right and wrong,
“it is what it is” can easily become an excuse to stay stuck.
To keep sin comfortable.
To normalise things that were never meant to be accepted.

We weren’t created for passive acceptance.

Jesus never looked at sin or brokenness and said,
“It is what it is.”

He wept.
He loved.
He corrected.
He healed.
He called people higher.

There’s a difference between surrendering something to God
and shrugging it off because it feels too uncomfortable to confront.

One leads to freedom.
The other leads to numbness.

Sometimes, God asks us to sit in the hard places,
not to accept them as unchangeable,
but to see them clearly
and invite Him into them.

When we hide behind phrases like “it is what it is”,
we stop asking what God wants to do through the situation.
We stop listening.
We stop growing.
We close the door on conviction, healing and transformation.

When the reality is we serve a God who transforms.
Who restores.
Who redeems.
Who makes beauty from ashes.

Nothing about your story, your struggle, your sin, your situation or anyone else’s is too far gone.

So, no… it’s not just “it is what it is.”

And that truth rather than acceptance, will change everything.

Many Blessings, Grace. Xx

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30 responses to “Why I Don’t Like The Phrase “It Is What It Is””

  1. Thank you Grace, wise and profound words, and thought provoking. I have been guilty of using the phrase myself!

    1. I think we all have. 🙈 …thank you for reading too!

  2. I agree! The same is true of, “We are where we are.” Circumstances and facts are changeable, God and his word are not. By believing Him and applying his word, both we and our circumstances can be changed.

    1. Amen! I wholeheartedly agree. 💛

  3. Excelent, Grace! I couldn’t agree more.

    “It is what it is” is often a cop-out.

  4. I love this; and in agreement, you are absolutely correst!

    1. Thank you and thanks for reading. 💚

  5. What an amazing witness to our Savior. He knew our hearts. He loved us still. He died for us and took our sins to the grave. Because of His great gift to humanity, we are healed. Thank you for these special words.

    1. Amen! Thank you for reading. Xx

  6. Jesus never looked at sin or brokenness and said,
    “It is what it is.” – Great Point!

  7. Excellent post! You stated this perfectly. I always feel like that phrase is such a defeatists attitude. Our God is an awesome God and anything is possible if we trust in Him. Imagine if Jesus ever thought, “Oh well, sin is what it is.” Thank you so much for sharing these words Grace. Peace to you in the New Year!

    1. Thank you for sharing… I totally agree! Many blessings, Grace. 🧡

  8. Amen.

  9. Yes, and amen!

    1. Thank you for reading! 🥰

  10. I know someone who actually got this tattoo on her hip. When I asked her why she chose that, she just shrugged her shoulders and couldn’t give an answer. I’ve always felt like this was a “brush-off” statement for people who didn’t want to dig in deeper to whatever the situation is they are saying that to. Sometimes, we can’t understand people and their choices, or why things are happening the way they are, so it’s easy to just say “it is what it is” and walk away. I guess I’m not as easy-going as I thought I was, because I want to dig in and find out the why. Most of the time I find it in prayer and talking with God, which is exactly what I think He wants me to do – come to Him. Go to His Word. Study. Look into things and the meanings behind them to learn and grow more. It may be what it is because of something else that has happened or a cause-and-effect type situation, or maybe someone needs to talk because they have something deeper going on. I hope to be the person that can talk to people and try to understand and help. Thank you for your post, it was a great reminder!

    1. Amen! It is a gift to go deeper in these things at times. 💕

  11. The Lord Jesus is who He is.

    1. 🙌🏽 🙌🏽 🙌🏽

  12. So many people are opting for numbness (in so many ways). You make a good point. Jesus works through us to effect a change in others. Let’s take our responsibilities seriously, and act.

    1. Thanks for reading. 🤍

  13. Thank you for your insightful post. Something to take into 2026. Thank you. 🙏

  14. My best friend from college used to say “it is what is” whenever he didn’t know what else to say. He hadn’t been a Christian for very long. But we both sat together one day and he said that, I looked at him and he looked at me and we both burst out laughing, then silent laughed, then laughed because we both laughed. We both came to the conclusion that we both just need Jesus. He died in a motorcycle accident not too long after that. The point is, i just wanted to say thank you for posting this. Because one of the most important people of my lifetime said that and we both knew there was more. God bless you for speaking truth. I hope to hear from you more!

  15. Nailed 🔨 it‼️

  16. Wow, so true.
    Stay encouraged.
    Joy!

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