5 Whys to Ask Yourself

 I love God’s Word. I love how He can teach me things and He speaks directly into my current life situation from words written years and years ago.
 
That being said, I also love when God teaches me things far outside the context of the Bible or Church.
 
God did that the other day.

God can use even Toyota to speak life into your current situation.  
 
The pioneer of how Toyota makes cars today, Taiichi Ohno, concluded that problems were a fact of life. (Which reminds me of John 16:33). And the key to solving any problem is getting to the root of it.
 
Taiichi says that in order to get to the root of any problem you must ask “why?” 5 times. If you do that you will have a better understanding of what is going wrong and how to fix it.

He gives this example:
 
"Why did the robot stop?"

The circuit has overloaded, causing a fuse to blow.
"Why is the circuit overloaded?"

There was insufficient lubrication on the bearings, so they locked up.
"Why was there insufficient lubrication on the bearings?"

The oil pump on the robot is not circulating sufficient oil.
"Why is the pump not circulating sufficient oil?"

The pump intake is clogged with metal shavings.
"Why is the intake clogged with metal shavings?"

Because there is no filter on the pump.

There is nothing earth-shattering about this. Nothing you couldn’t have thought of yourself. But doesn’t it speak volumes because of its simplicity?
 
Have you ever found yourself in a situation so far from God, feeling like he doesn’t exist? Or, on the brighter side, do you find yourself so in love with God that you can’t measure all the ways you’ve grown?
 
I have a feeling that if you ask yourself why five times things might become a little more clear.

For example:
Why do I keep lying? 
Because I feel like I need to impress people.
Why do I feel the need to impress people? 
I want to impress people because I want to be loved.
Why do I want to be loved? 
I want to be loved because I just always have wanted to be loved.
Why have I always wanted to be loved? 
Because I’m meant to be immeasurably loved by God.
Why are you meant to be loved by God? 
Because I am God’s daughter and He is a loving God.

I’ve done this over and over again and it always goes back to something true that God has taught me through the Bible. I am a child of God, I am forgiven, He has a plan, I can walk fearlessly, God is good, etc.
 
When we boil something down to its simplest form we find the wisdom that God has laid before us all along.
 
They say the better you know something the better you can teach it. Who knows more than God?  Who is a better teacher?
 
Take a moment, no matter what situation you find yourself in and ask yourself “why?” five times. What characteristic, what truth of God were you reminded? Focus on that and walk confidently in your current situation, sister.

About Jacque

​Jacque is the Missional Women Intern and a college student in Denver, CO who balances her time between trying to go to class and learning about His saving grace and perfect love as much as she can.  She is a twenty something, DIY attempting, Jesus loving, Denver living, small town rooted, Colorado sports fan.  She loves black coffee, long conversations and watching people do what God created them for. You can find her Christian Twenty Somethings blog at Desperately Dependent. ​

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