Something In Life That’s Not Overrated

Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash
SOMETHING IN LIFE THAT'S NOT OVERRATED , Photo by Anatol Lem on Unsplash

“I’m not sure what all the fuss is about. That movie’s overrated.”

My words came out as a frustrated howl as my friend and I left the theater.

We watched a new film with four and five star reviews. And over the short weeks since its debut, everywhere I turned people raved, applauded even, as the movie to go see.

I know these things are subjective. Still, I didn’t understand the fanfare or hoopla for this one.

At first, my friend defended the movie’s awesome-ness. But finally a confession about the lead actor. “I’m his number one fan.” Then my friend admitted she had seen better movies. But when we’re smitten and awestruck, our affections remain rock-solid.

Life offers a plethora of stuff to go crazy over. Misplaced affections steer us to overrate people and things. Besides movies, I’ll mention a few more scenarios perhaps you relate to.

Overrated Things

  • Restaurants. A new eatery opens in your town. The local news covers the grand opening and shows footage of happy-thumbs-up guests. So you decide to check it out. In addition to a forty-five minute wait, your wallet takes a hard hit. It reminds you of why you enjoy the small and economical diner down the road. Which has good food by the way.
  • Great Aunt Bessie’s famous casserole. Let me add a disclaimer here. I don’t have a great aunt or any relative with the name, Bessie. If you do, or if your name is Bessie, I’m truly sorry. I’ll make my point and then move on to non-food things. We all have that family member who believes their green bean casserole or chicken casserole wins the blue ribbon. And while the food was good, it remained overrated.
  • TV shows. We’ve already established that most things, like movies, are subjective and strictly based on individual opinion and preference. TV shows fit this criteria. Maybe I’m the oddball out, but I usually never understand the camaraderie associated with popular television shows. Particularly the ones that end up on “The best TV shows of 2020.” I even found a link for shows you must “binge watch right now.” I do have my favorite shows, yet I’m not a TV enthusiast except for the Hallmark channel.
  • Places and Cities. “You must go on vacation to this place. It’s the best place to visit.” And while my family authentically enjoyed a few of our friends referrals, they were not the “best” for us or even a “must go to” place. For my family…overrated.

The One Thing

What about you? Have you ever thought something in life as overrated? A place, movie, song, restaurant, or your great aunt’s famous casserole?

Me too.

There’s one thing the ratings fail to explain, with such power for underestimating. Amazing Grace.

Amazing Grace

Oh, the world thinks grace is nothing to go crazy over. But it is.

The world wonders if being lost, then found is overrated. But it isn’t.

Culture believes that once we were blind, but now we see is overrated. But it isn’t.

The enemy tries to sell the idea that the cross of Calvary’s highly overrated. But it isn’t.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God” Romans 5:1-2 NIV. 

SOMETHING IN LIFE THAT'S NOT OVERRATED , Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

With God’s grace, I know what all the fuss is about. It’s about Jesus…about His grace.

What about you? Name something you thought life overrated. And how does God’s grace meet the standards as never overrated?

This post first appeared on KarenGirlFriday.com.

*Featured Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash/Top Photo by Anatol Lem on Unsplash/Bottom Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash.

Karen Friday

Whether the spoken or written word, Karen thrives in moving an audience to experience laughter, tears, surprise, and deep reflection. She not only possesses an affection for words (just ask her family), but she also cherishes God’s Word. Karen is an award-winning writer who has published both devotions and articles with a mission to know Jesus more and make Him known. She contributes to several national sites while she works on her first non-fiction book. In the blogging world, she is referred to as “Girl Friday” where she shares a central message: you are never far from hope. And she considers her life as a pastor’s wife and women’s ministry leader a sacred calling. Karen and her husband Mike reside in East Tennessee and have two grown children and two grandchildren. The entire family is fond of the expression, “TGIF: Thank God it’s Friday.” They owe Monday an apology. Connect with her blog community, Hope is Among Us.

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29 comments

  1. Great post! If you ever get the time, or the notion check out some of the jazz artists who have covered Amazing Grace. Harold Land, Archie Shepp, Kirk Whalum to name a few. I suspect it may not be your go to genre so I’d be interested in your review.

  2. Homes, neighborhoods, “groups on social media”…I have known things that have been “overrated”. I am thankful God is always with us. We are called to worship Him, not things.

    1. Melissa, those are some good overrated things to add to the list. Oh, the world thinks grace is nothing to go crazy over. But it is. Amazing Grace!

  3. This really made me think of at least one thing today that was overrated. Diets. Some career paths. But l agree l must say l never want to feel that way about God! Thanks Karen!

  4. Some books are claimed to be amazing. I read one of which I won’t mention (I hate throwing people under the bus); this book is written by a well-known pastor and many raved over it. I read it, I was not only disappointed, but I was also a angry, for it distorted and misapplied scripture in the most horrible way. I would never recommend it for sure. But that same grace that God gave me has also been given to this pastor. While I don’t like his book, I do pray for God to speak to his heart. God loves him and wants to deliver him from the falsehood he believes and is spreading.

    I’m surely grateful for the grace God has showered over me. Growing up, I was not the best teen to raise. I gave my mom a lot of trouble and sought out all the wrong people; I did things that I have a hard time remembering for they bring me much shame. But God, his love and his grace saved me. I would say that his grace went far beyond my expectations. His grace truly did do immeasurably more than all I could ask or imagine. Wonderful article, Karen. You have great insights. Love the illustrations you use.

    1. Marcie, that’s honorable of you not to mention the pastor’s name. It’s not important. But thanks for reminding us even books are overrated. And it’s scary when like the one you mentioned are even misleading.

      Yes, I will forever be amazed by God’s grace!

  5. Overrated it seems are professional sports people making multiple millions over a few years time. When I compare that to others that impart great service like teachers with little pay it seems way overblown.
    The magnitude of God’s Grace your brought out should draw us to our knees. Where would we be without His grace? Lost and hopeless! The more we study His grace the more we see the love He has for us. I hope His amazing grace will change mindsets of those that make light of it now. Perhaps it takes one to change an apathetic state to a lover of God and His Word to change a heart.

    1. I agree, Valerie. We think about how our culture’s priorities are confused when a professional sports player makes millions for “games” and people like good teachers and missionaries that are changing people’s lives are underpaid.

      The enemy tries to sell the idea that the cross of Calvary’s highly overrated. But it isn’t.

  6. I have heard music, recipes, tv shows and some exercise routines being overrated. But you are so right – God and grace can never be be overrated! We have no words that can do justice to God and his gift of grace.

    1. Yes, recipes and tv shows for sure…and exercise routines. Sometimes it’s all the “craze” and I wonder who really likes this stuff?!

      Culture believes that once we were blind, but now we see is overrated. But it isn’t.

  7. Thanks for a great way to keep our perspective. I love it when I don’t have high expectations and then a movie or a meal surpasses my hopes. When we can’t wait to get to the theater because of the hype, it’s seldom that we aren’t disappointed. Thanks, Karen. God bless!

    1. Nancy, I’m with you, I’d much rather have low expectations and be pleasantly surprised by the awesomeness of something than the other way around.

      With God’s grace, I know what all the fuss is about. It’s about Jesus…about His grace.

  8. For the longest time my pet peeve has been the use of the word “awesome” to describe things and people. Such an example of overrating, since God is the only one who is truly awesome, aka worthy of our awe!

    1. Ava, you make such a valid point. I like to say, “That’s awesome!” sometimes. But yes, the awe of Jesus and His glory is really where the true definition of the word lies.

  9. Beautifully said. All earthly things will fade away as we know, but I put my all in Jesus. I am grateful for God’s never-ending and amazing grace!

  10. Such wisdom here! My husband and I were just talking this morning about how famous people are, in a way, overrated. Not that they don’t have value, but they are, after all, just people like us. The world just happens to know their name. It makes me thankful God does not have favorites like the world does.

    1. That’s so true, Emily. I’ve often thought about that. From actors to musicians and professional sports players…the fans…the fan clubs…the millions they make and the millions of people who follow them. And often it’s a dangerous thing because they become idols people worship when they are only humans like you said. God is no respecter of persons.

  11. Karen, what a great post! So many things have already been listed as “overrated.” I can’t think of much to add. Except that when we keep growing in our relationship with God we’ll see things of the earth as they really are . . . some are great, but none are “awesome” when held up in the light of our Father and His love for us.

    1. So spot-on, Jeanne. Nothing compares to the grace of Calvary. Nothing compares to Jesus blood. Nothing compares to an empty tomb. And nothing in this world compares to glorious and amazing grace!

  12. Amen. Our Jesus is not overrated. All His amazing grace tells me so. Wonderful encouragement for my day.

    1. Oh, the world thinks grace is nothing to go crazy over. But it is.

      The world wonders if being lost, then found is overrated. But it isn’t.

      Culture believes that once we were blind, but now we see is overrated. But it isn’t.

      The enemy tries to sell the idea that the cross of Calvary’s highly overrated. But it isn’t.

  13. Powerful truth here! Wow. How we magnify the greatness of little things instead of magnifying the greatness of Christ. Lord have mercy. Holy Spirit, capture our hearts and minds, that we see Jesus in all His glory and never get over it. Ever.

    1. Amen, Melissa to this prayer, “Lord have mercy. Holy Spirit, capture our hearts and minds, that we see Jesus in all His glory and never get over it. Ever.” May we always be amazed by God’s grace!

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