CrutchVerse: Something to Lean On · Day 4 of 7
Why — For Me
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Matthew 27:46 (KJV)
Jesus knew exactly what was happening. This was not confusion. He had already submitted to the Father’s will. He had already chosen the cross. But now the weight is no longer ahead of Him — it is on Him. Sin is being carried. Separation is being felt. And He says it out loud: “Why hast thou forsaken me?” This is not a question looking for an answer. It is the weight of what sin costs, spoken in real time.
And when you hear it, you are not meant to stay distant from it. That question pulls you in. Because when Jesus says “why,” it forces you to face the answer. Not in theory — personally. Why is He there? Why is He carrying that? Why is that separation happening? You know the answer. It’s not abstract. It’s not general. It’s you. It’s me. Not just sin as an idea — your choices, your rebellion, your moments you justified, ignored, or hid. That moment doesn’t just show you the cross — it puts you at the center of the reason for it. And when you let that land, “why” stops being a question you throw at God and becomes a truth you have to face about yourself.
So no — asking “why” is not wrong. Jesus said it. But He didn’t say it to accuse God. He said it while staying fully aligned with Him. That’s the difference. You can ask without turning. You can feel it without accusing. And sometimes saying the question out loud doesn’t change the answer — it makes you face it. It anchors you in truth instead of letting your thoughts drift into something else. Jesus speaks the “why,” and in doing so, He makes you answer it.
Lean On This · What It Means to Ask Without Fear
It’s not wrong to ask why. But don’t use it to challenge God — let it draw you into truth. When Jesus said “why,” He wasn’t questioning the Father — He was revealing the cost. And when you hear it, you’re not meant to ignore it. You’re meant to answer it. Let your “why” bring you closer, not pull you away.
Check In
Spiritually, I feel:
- ☐ Blessed
- ☐ Forgiven
- ☐ Distant
- ☐ Unworthy
- ☐ Seeking
- ☐ Covered
- ☐ Ready
Where do you sense God inviting you to lean in deeper today?
Spiritually, I feel:
- ☐ Blessed
- ☐ Forgiven
- ☐ Distant
- ☐ Unworthy
- ☐ Seeking
- ☐ Covered
- ☐ Ready
Where do you sense God inviting you to lean in deeper today?
When You Don't Lean
Mindset
You are willing to acknowledge the cross, but not personalize it. “Jesus died for sin” stays general, not personal. Your “why” stays aimed at God instead of turning inward.
Behavior
You ask questions, but you don’t stay long enough to face the answer. You move past conviction quickly. You keep conversations surface-level. You may agree with truth, but you avoid sitting in it. Instead of letting “why” expose your need, you use it to stay in control of the conversation.
Relationship
This shows up in how you deal with others. You become quicker to explain than to own. You protect your image instead of walking in humility. You may talk about grace, but struggle to extend it — because you haven’t fully received it personally.
When You Do Lean
Mindset
You allow truth to come all the way in. You don’t just believe Jesus died for sin — you accept that He died for yours. You stop asking “why” at a distance and let it land where it belongs. You understand that conviction is not condemnation — it is clarity.
Behavior
You stay in the moment long enough to be changed by it. You don’t rush past the weight. You let it shape how you think, how you speak, and how you respond. Instead of deflecting, you acknowledge. Instead of explaining, you surrender.
Relationship
You become more honest with others. You don’t need to protect your image because you’re grounded in grace. You extend patience because you understand what you’ve been given. The cross stops being something you reference and becomes something that shapes how you live.
Lean Challenge
Mindset
The next time you hear truth that hits close, don’t soften it. Ask yourself: Am I letting this land — or am I keeping it at a distance?
Behavior
Sit with one truth this week: “This was for me.” Don’t rush past it. Don’t explain it away. Let it stay long enough to affect you.
Relationship
Have one honest conversation where you take ownership instead of deflecting. Let humility lead. Let truth shape how you show up.