Baggage… everyone has it. Some of it’s old, some of it’s new, some might even look kinda cute (at first)… but all baggage is heavy. We lug our bags with us wherever we go (hence the term luggage) because it’s ours. We own it.

Photo Credit:  Inspired Angle 

Undoubtedly, the origin of each piece comes with an epic story.

Our baggage hints to where we’ve been and where we’re going. Maybe your baggage looks similar to mine: physically and sexually abused as a child, body conscious issues, and a 15 year marriage which ended after my husband hid a second family for 2 years. Your baggage may look nothing like mine. Yet, we all still have it. So let’s get real: the purpose of luggage is a temporary solution; it’s a make-shift dresser. It was never designed to be permanent. How many temporary things do we permanently carry around with us?

I don’t know about you, but I grew tired (exhausted, really) of lugging around these cumbersome bags. God showed me one of the worst things I could do is hide or pretend things are different than they actually are. We often try to pretend our loathsome luggage doesn’t exist and the aches from hauling it around are from something else altogether. We tell ourselves things like, “I don’t know why I’m like this. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Or, "I’m fine. I just had a bad day and overreacted.” Or maybe, just maybe, you’ve even blamed the baggage itself for making you the way you are. Because who wouldn’t get frustrated with the constant reminder of the junk you've collected and caused such burdens in your life? 

So what do you do with these bags weighted with hurt and trauma? If everyone owns baggage why do you see people walking around unhindered and free? Jesus wants to turn your heavy bags into a beautiful testimony to display. He wants you to be honest with Him about what you’ve stuffed into the far corners of your luggage. He wants to have a conversation with you about each article that weighs down those bags and adds to your burden. 

And He wants to do this in the most tender and loving way.

Unpacking your baggage with Jesus requires complete transparency on your part. How do I know? I’ve been there. And I’m sure the same transparency will be required of me again and again. Because transparency is the very first step towards authenticity. (We will talk more about this topic soon!)

Friends, it’s scary to be open with the ugliest parts of your life. But I promise it’ll be worth it. My hope is for you to find comfort in knowing you’re not alone in your pain. You will find strength to move through your pain like I am. However, you can’t have my strength… because I don’t have any of my own. My strength is drawn from Jesus and He is inviting you to draw from His strength, too. 

Can I just share with you what He has done with my personal baggage? Like most of my time with Jesus, it started with Him asking me a series of questions:

J: Why are you wearing yourself out carrying this baggage?

me: Because all my “stuff” is in it. (Obviously)

J: But I have a plan for those bags.

me: What about the stuff inside? …it’s pretty gross in there, Jesus.

J: No worries, I’ll help you get rid of the junk. Your baggage needs to be repurposed.

me: “Junk"?!?! But I’ve invested YEARS carrying these things around. They are a part of me.

J: It’s time to stop burdening yourself with the painful memories inside. You’re right: they’ve been a part of you… only you. You haven’t given them to Me so I can heal your hurts. 

me: I’m sorry I’ve been so stubborn. This process doesn’t sound fun, though.

J: Carrying heavy bags has been fun?

me: Ya got me there.

J: …

me: So You mentioned repurposing my crusty, old luggage once it’s been cleaned out? It’s not much to look at. Are You sure?

J: Yes! I have a unique plan for your bags. I want to prominently display them where you live.

me: What?! But people will see it! Usually I throw them in a closet when people come over because baggage is embarrassing. 

J: Shame is not from Me, dear one. And besides, the stuff inside the luggage will be gone. Remember? People need to see it can be done; they need to know this is possible through Me. When I’m finished repurposing your baggage it’ll be your testimony of what I can do and how I changed your life… for good.

So there you have it. Jesus started a conversation with me in my living room. He ever so gently redecorated my heart and put a powerful testimony within it’s chambers. He sat by my side and helped me unpack each and every painful article. Will you let Him do the same for you? Starling Stories is dedicated to pointing you toward the One who can heal the hurts that weigh you down. Here are my stories of HOW Jesus sorted and walked me through my junk. I’m sharing these stories with you in the hopes this will give you permission to let Him do the same for you. Give Him your baggage. You don’t need to carry them anymore. And here’s the really exciting part: once your baggage is repurposed it’s gone. The next hurt you encounter will not find it’s home in a tattered suitcase because you will have learned how to bring that hurt to the feet of Jesus. 

Jesus is telling you, “Let’s sit and talk about what’s in these bags. It’s time to unpack them. And I’ll help."