Pack Your Baggage, HoneySample

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5). 

After 9/11, many security-related procedures changed in the United States, and air travel was certainly one of them. Airline employees and security personnel repeatedly ask, who packed your baggage, how long it has been in your possession since the time you packed it, and whether anyone gave you anything to carry. They want to know that your baggage is really yours.

Sometimes, we have lived with our emotional baggage for so long, we don’t know if it is our baggage at all, and we may wonder if we are actually carrying someone else’s. Often, we don’t even know why we are carrying the baggage. 

We must pray, “Lord, reveal my baggage to me” if we are to identify what baggage we carry with us, day-to-day and throughout our lives. The Lord is willing to answer these questions.

We must take the time to ask and then listen for the answer. The wonderful thing about the Holy Spirit is that He is sensitive to our ability to take and digest revelation. I have heard Him referred to many times as a Gentleman. Sometimes, He reveals things all at once; but very often, little by little, piece by piece, He gives to us what we might call “baggage revelation.” Fear can keep us from asking for this clarity, but God is a God of compassion, and we can trust His compassion toward us. 

Carrying baggage distracts us from serving the Lord, and He wants it gone. We waste so much time hauling our baggage from place to place! He offers freedom for us. He wants us to have an abundant life, an easy yoke to carry. You and I will never have time to serve God fully and fulfill His desires for our lives if we are spending valuable time distracted by lugging around all our baggage. 

If you really aren’t sure what baggage you carry or are stumbling over, ask God to make it clear to you, maybe through those close, trusted friends around you or a trusted counselor. 

What satisfaction and beauty can be ours when we ask God to help us understand our baggage! In turn, He puts His healing balm to work on our lives.