This song expresses some of my deepest struggles with anxiety, as well as some of my deepest worldview beliefs. It’s a song about reaching for “the serenity to accept the things I cannot change” (to quote the famous “serenity prayer” of AA). I wrote this song during the rough months of having a newborn plus twin four-year-olds, and it helped me keep hold of sanity (if not serenity).
My brother has made a beautiful arrangement for this song as well, which I hope to post soon with a lyric video.
“What Is Just Is” lyrics
The rain coming down
won’t listen to me.
And so it goes
with everything.
I strive and strain
to make things okay
but whatever will be
will just be anyway.
What is just is;
it’s not up to me.
I open my hands
and let it be.
So many things
I’ve got to get done
So I just keep pushing
On and on
My head starts to ache
I yell at my child
My heart starts to break
It’s time to resign
What is just is;
it’s not up to me.
I open my hands
and let it be.
I strive to protect
the ones that I love
But dangers abound,
Below and above.
All my best tries
are no guarantee.
This fear hurts my heart
Until I can see
that what is just is;
it’s not up to me.
I open my hands
and let it be.
What is just is;
it’s not up to me.
What was just was.
What will be will be.
I look at the world
And see so much pain
That I cannot stop
Just like the rain
What help I can give
Will come as I live
In tune with my soul
Not by fake control
May I learn to tend
This griever in me
This anxiety
Just breathe and be
For what is just is;
it’s not up to me.
I open my hands
and let it be.
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