It is what it is

Life can be full of unexpected turns:

• Someone goes for a job interview and does not get the job they were hoping for.

• Someone’s holiday is suddenly cancelled.

• Someone postpones buying their new house due to sudden medical expenses that jeopardize their financial stability.

• A couple loses their long-awaited baby.

• And millions of other petty or significant life scenarios.

When these things happen, very often our initial reaction is disappointment. It is hard to accept and live with an outcome different from what we expected. Of course, it is understandable and expected that turning a challenging situation into something positive does not happen easily. Perhaps missing the bus when trying to get to work on time can be less upsetting than losing a loved one, but the process of processing it is quite similar.

Very often we:

• Plan

• Act

• Expect

As if we have full control over everything in our lives. This attitude might be desirable but is deceiving.

Most of the time, we cannot control things in our life, but what we can do is work on our attitude toward the things that happen and hope for the best.

In the letter of Saint James (4:13-15) we read:“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.’ / You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. / Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.’”

The beauty of our life of faith helps us live with the reality that we have a loving God who is in control of our lives. And while we do not even know what will happen tomorrow, we can rest assured that He will be there with us:

• He will help in our needs.

• Cry or laugh with us when needed.

• Lead us to the best outcome possible.

  
  

When we think about stories from the Bible, both Old and New Testament, God has proven all of this and more to His chosen people:

• Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, and at the very last minute, God provided a lamb instead. (Genesis 22:1-14)

• Jonah spent three days in the belly of the fish and miraculously survived. (Jonah 1:17)

• Peter and the disciples of Christ spent the whole night fishing without success, then had the biggest catch ever when Jesus intervened. (Luke 5:1-11)

• Paul fell off a horse, and his life changed forever. (Acts 9:3-6)

  
  

It is in moments when we lose control of the outcome that God shows who He really is. Fighting reality often drains our energy.

Only total acceptance with trust in God’s love is the way to stay positive. “Taking life as it is” gives us freedom that no one can take away from us.

It gives us positivity that stands against any negative events in our life. It is a choice which you and I can make and practice every day.