Baggage

Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Whether from past family trauma or rejection at work, school, or even church, almost everyone has struggled with the baggage of trust issues, anxiety, or fear. There is good news—God is keenly aware and makes this promise: “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” (Psalm 55:22). Baggage can be measured in lots of different ways, but there is one thing for certain—we all carry some emotional baggage.

Kings Saul and David represent two of the greatest examples of dealing with life issues and emotional baggage. In 1 Samuel 10, the prophet Samuel had anointed Saul and was about to introduce him as the first king of Israel. But suddenly, they could not find him. 1 Samuel 10:17 tells us, “Behold, he (Saul) has hidden himself among the baggage.” We later discover that Saul was a man filled with insecurity, an issue he covered through pride, controlling behaviors, and choosing his own way over God’s. His choice to hide behind his baggage and a refusal to deal with it would ultimately be his downfall.

David was far from a perfect man and had his own significant issues to deal with. In 1 Samuel 17, a young David had just arrived at the Valley of Elah and the battle lines of the Philistine and Israelite armies when he heard the shouts and taunts of Goliath, the Philistine giant. 1 Samuel 17:22 tells us, “David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper and ran to the battle line.” He didn’t hide in his baggage or even try to carry it while in battle; he left it with the baggage keeper. This played out multiple times in his life. David often found himself falling short of God’s standard, but he was quick to repent of his failure and sin, becoming known as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

Too often we cling to our fears, burdens, and worries, attempting to create our identity, unwilling to release control of our lives to the Lord. 1 Peter 5:7 instructs us to “cast all your cares, worries, and anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” Peter does not say we are to deny, ignore, or justify our cares. Instead, we are to cast them on Him. The Greek word for “cast” is a decisive, action word. It could be used to describe throwing out a bag of trash. We don’t put painstaking thought and effort into it; we grab it and hurl it into the bin. So instead of going through our days pressed down by burdens of worries and anxiety, we are to throw it, hurl it, onto the Lord. Trusting Him to make our life a well-watered garden, living with quiet confidence, full of peace.

To do this requires complete surrender, giving up our desire to control and triumph over circumstances through our own efforts, resulting in our own glory. Being humble is what enables us to give our worries to God: humility’s presence leads to anxiety’s absence. When we attempt to take matters into our own hands, we will continually find ourselves entangled and weighed down by burdens that make it impossible to live the life and run the race God has set before us.

Jesus called to us and said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” He promises that if we release our baggage and give him everything that weighs us down, he will replace it with peace and rest. Suddenly those ‘big issues’ aren’t so big anymore. Jesus is your baggage keeper. 

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

1 Peter 5:7 TPT Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.

Matthew 11:28-30 TPT Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.

Psalms 37:4-5 AMP Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him also and He will do it.

Psalms 139:2 AMP You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thoughts from afar.

Philippians 4:6-8 NLT Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Matthew 6:25-27 NLT That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

Psalms 37:23-24 NLT The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Psalms 16:7-8 NLT I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

Isaiah 41:17-20 NLT When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them. I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground. I will plant trees in the barren desert— cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine. I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means— that it is the Lord who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it.

Psalms 139:2-4 TPT You perceive every movement of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind. You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence! You know every step I will take before my journey even begins.

Psalms 139:23-24 NLT Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Proverbs 4:23 NLT Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.