Why?

It is Wednesday Words Day. What I want to talk with you about today is the times we ask why?  And when the why is so hard. I remember as a child, when I would ask my mom for something, and she would say no. The first question I came back with was usually “why?”.

Why? I really wanted to know the reason I was not able to do whatever I wanted to do. And of course, she would often reply, “Because I said so.” That was supposed to be a good enough reason for my why. I’m sure in her mind it was, but it didn’t help me very much as a kid. I have to admit it doesn’t really help me very much now. 

What I’m learning to do, and what I would encourage you to do, is to take a look at your whys. When you’re trying to discern: Why is this not getting better? Why is this happening? Or why am I doing this?

Take a look back at your motives. That helps me. This is

not getting better because all I’m doing is sitting here hoping and wishing that

it would get better, but I’m not taking any action. I’m not doing anything to

try to make it better. I’m whining about it, which I can

certainly do with the best of them. Or you want to look at what is

motivating me to do something that my heart’s not in?  Is it time

to let something go? Is it time to make a better choice and make a better

decision? 

These are hard “whys,” but I feel like when you do that, you’re going

to set yourself up for peace, for feeling fulfilled, and for also

feeling like you’re going to understand your why better. Maybe you won’t even

have to ask if you know the motive ahead of time. 

If you’re going to do something you’ve made your mind up to do, what is your motive behind it? If that’s all it is, ask yourself, why do I want to do this? What is my motive behind this? Why? Do I have something I’m not facing, something I’m not thinking about? Am I trying to manipulate a situation? Am I trying to please someone when I really need to stand up for myself and say, “No, these are all hard, but I know you can do it, and I know I can, too.” When I get overwhelmed, that’s probably when I want to shut down the most. And I imagine that you would feel that same way, too.  

I want you to know that the struggle is real. And what I’m learning, too, is that I need to look at my why, not someone else’s, and not try to have them conform to my way or them change. 

The only person I can really change is me. The only person I can control is me, and that’s a big job, and it might be for you too. 

I appreciate your support with my Wednesday Words, and I appreciate you for who you are. When you figure out your why, you might find some really deep truths about yourself that you know you’ve not discovered or looked at before. Know that I’m pulling for you, and I’m going to be praying for you, and I know that you can find your answers in the time that you spend with God, too. See you next week.