Sometimes some people can spend too much time trying to figure out why they are the way they are. There are two recurring and insistent questions with these folks: Why am I the way that I am? How did I get this way? Life Over Coffee exists to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. Helpful Links Would you please help keep our resources free by donating here: http://bit.ly/2ggwJTF. Learn more about our training here: http://bit.ly/2u2oD25 If you would like to talk to us, go here: http://bit.ly/2ieukJz Video produced by H.M.G.T.: https://bit.ly/2y9szpo Connect with Us: Website: https://bit.ly/3yNZc76 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3wGkWQp Rumble: https://bit.ly/3CotmPt Twitter: https://bit.ly/2SF1BQE Instagram: http://bit.ly/2He98il TikTok: https://bit.ly/3i1moZI YouTube: https://bit.ly/3i0UmND There is wisdom in understanding your past. But if there is a temptation to spend too much time thinking about what happened to you or why you are the way you are, it could lead you into a trap. You want you to guard against doing a deep-dive into the granular levels of the "why question." Sometimes we can look for answers for "why" we are the way we are or "how" we got this way, and it preoccupies too much of our mental space when it would be better to "just repent." Acknowledge that these things are historical struggles, and ask the Lord to give you empowering favor (grace) at those acute moments of temptation to overcome them. Rather than drowning in the "why question," practice repentance. You don't have to know all the details of how you got to this place. It's wiser to focus more on the "renewing your mind" and "putting on Christ" than pondering your "former manner of life." See Ephesians 4:22-24 There can be an element of self-reliance in trying to know all the reasons why when God is calling you to step out in faith by trusting Him with your sanctification. At some point, the "complexity of our depravity" will remain a mystery. I'm not saying you should not explore your fallenness to root out your "former manner of life," but there is a balance to keep in view. Most folks have enough information about who they are and how they got to this point. E.g., Adam's fall, dad's abuse, my choices. The key idea here is not to wallow in granular thinking of your depravity by always looking in the rearview mirror, trying to figure out what happened. Be more forward-thinking than backward-thinking; have a plan for repentance so you can change your future. And that "plan" is to know how to combat these historical problems as they happen, which will give you the "spiritual muscles" to defeat them, which will become more natural with more practice. Practicing daily repentance is better than any investigatory work about why you are the way you are. For example, when the fear of man begins to wrap it's depraved tentacles around your heart, as soon as you sense this happening, have a pre-packaged plan to respond. Immediately!! And the more times you can do this "at the moment," two things will happen: 1. You'll get better at repenting. 2. The temptations will go away eventually, and you will experience more and more freedom.