Freedom Through Forgivenessنموونە

Why Should I Forgive?

Now that we have covered what forgiveness is and what it isn’t, we can talk about why you should forgive. It doesn’t matter who we are; we need to understand why we do what we do. If you do anything worth doing, you must know your why.

I have worked with people who have mentored me in different areas. When the journey gets tough, they remind me of my why. They will either ask me, “Why do you want to lose weight?” or they may say, “Remember your reasons for starting this process.” When you remember your why, it will empower your what.

One of the questions that many people ask is, "Why me?" This is a valid question. Some of the pain that people cause is horrible, nasty, and unimaginable.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33 NIV emphasis added.

Jesus said that you would have trouble. He knows the world that we live in, and he knows that people are far from perfect. So, it's only natural that we will have trouble in our lives. This will look different for different people based on where they live, the families that they were born into, and even the physical disabilities that some are born with.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." - John 10:10 ESV

The underlying reason you were hurt is that the enemy (the thief, the devil, el diablo) comes to steal from you, kill you, and destroy your life. This is why it happens. Just as God's only purpose is to give life, the enemy's sole reason for everything he does is to kill, steal, and destroy.

Peeling Back the Onion

One day, I was in a session with my counselor at the time. He was inquiring about some issues that were currently affecting my life. I was dealing with feelings that were definitely not God-honoring.

For about ten minutes, my counselor continued asking me, "Why?" Every time he asked, I answered with what I thought was the reason. But every time he asked why, I had another answer, so I then realized there was more to it. I honestly got a little irritated with him after a while.

A few days later, everything hit. I discovered what was going on in my heart, and I was able to see why I was attracted to another woman. After I realized this, I was able to make the proper adjustments in my heart to help me move forward.

The Why Needs to Begin with You

You need to understand your why. In everything we do, there is always a reason behind it. Sometimes it's obvious, and sometimes it's not. What I was feeling was wrong, and the only person I wanted to talk to about it was someone who had to keep it between us by law, but I was happy I did. Discovering that “why” saved me from doing things I would regret later.

Let's address some of the reasons you need to forgive over the next few days.