The Bags We Carry
I love all kinds of bags…handbags, tote bags, and travel bags to name a few. My eyes are attracted to different colors and designs and if I can find a bag that keeps everything organized…even better! I have been known to load them up with stuff and then wonder why they feel so heavy. It doesn’t take long when I’m carrying all that “stuff” before my shoulders and back start killing me. Which then forces me to either rearrange the bags I’m carrying or better yet…put them down and unload them. It makes me think about the symbolic bags of “stuff” we carry around in life and about how much they exhaust us and weigh us down.
Somehow, as we grow from children to adults, we learn the unfortunate art of worry. We worry about our careers, our relationships, our children, our grandchildren, our financial security, and our health. I may have missed a few but that covers a lot of it. We set up a “bag” for each category and carry around all the stuff in that bag thinking that if we carry it long enough, we can fix it. Here’s the problem: our bodies, minds, and spirits were never designed to carry all of that “stuff”. Furthermore, we don’t have the ability to fix all that we carry around in those worry bags. But I know The One who can and will fix it. And His cross and resurrection tell me that I can place my worry bags at the foot of the cross and trust The One who died for me. Since He conquered death, I know He can conquer my circumstances and struggles and provide for me. He can. He does. He will. I have learned that putting down the stuff I carry and leaving it at the foot of the cross, invites my Savior to do the work that I cannot.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
He is faithful. Never once has God left my side or left me to handle my circumstances all by myself. I’ve been a believer for fifty years and have been through A LOT of “stuff”. In all things, He is faithful. When my hands are open to let go, they are also open to receive the healing and blessings He has for me.
Jesus invites us to put our bags of trouble and worry down and leave them with Him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11: 28-30)
It’s not so easy to go from being a career worrier to just leaving your bags of stuff in a pile for someone else to take care of. But we worship a God – THE God- Who is not just someone else. He is the Creator, King, Father, and Savior. He conquered death to purchase our life. That’s The One we can trust with our bags.
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[a]? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12: 25-31)
Today is a new day. I encourage you…to put your worry bags down.
“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6)
And if you, like me, sometimes attempt to pick up those bags again and place them on your shoulders remember…they’re too heavy, they don’t look good on us, and they don’t belong to us. God’s got this.
Lord, I confess that I’m carrying around a lot of trouble, pain and worry. I’m so use to carrying it all that I’m afraid to put it all down. I need Your help to uncurl my fingers from that which I hold to so tightly. Help me to let go so that I can receive all the goodness, healing, and blessing that You have planned for me and that bears testimony to Your glory. Help me to trust You in all things. Thank you for the answers and solutions that you will provide without my help and because of my obedience. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Somehow, as we grow from children to adults, we learn the unfortunate art of worry. We worry about our careers, our relationships, our children, our grandchildren, our financial security, and our health. I may have missed a few but that covers a lot of it. We set up a “bag” for each category and carry around all the stuff in that bag thinking that if we carry it long enough, we can fix it. Here’s the problem: our bodies, minds, and spirits were never designed to carry all of that “stuff”. Furthermore, we don’t have the ability to fix all that we carry around in those worry bags. But I know The One who can and will fix it. And His cross and resurrection tell me that I can place my worry bags at the foot of the cross and trust The One who died for me. Since He conquered death, I know He can conquer my circumstances and struggles and provide for me. He can. He does. He will. I have learned that putting down the stuff I carry and leaving it at the foot of the cross, invites my Savior to do the work that I cannot.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
He is faithful. Never once has God left my side or left me to handle my circumstances all by myself. I’ve been a believer for fifty years and have been through A LOT of “stuff”. In all things, He is faithful. When my hands are open to let go, they are also open to receive the healing and blessings He has for me.
Jesus invites us to put our bags of trouble and worry down and leave them with Him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11: 28-30)
It’s not so easy to go from being a career worrier to just leaving your bags of stuff in a pile for someone else to take care of. But we worship a God – THE God- Who is not just someone else. He is the Creator, King, Father, and Savior. He conquered death to purchase our life. That’s The One we can trust with our bags.
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[a]? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12: 25-31)
Today is a new day. I encourage you…to put your worry bags down.
“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6)
And if you, like me, sometimes attempt to pick up those bags again and place them on your shoulders remember…they’re too heavy, they don’t look good on us, and they don’t belong to us. God’s got this.
Lord, I confess that I’m carrying around a lot of trouble, pain and worry. I’m so use to carrying it all that I’m afraid to put it all down. I need Your help to uncurl my fingers from that which I hold to so tightly. Help me to let go so that I can receive all the goodness, healing, and blessing that You have planned for me and that bears testimony to Your glory. Help me to trust You in all things. Thank you for the answers and solutions that you will provide without my help and because of my obedience. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Posted in Women of Grace
4 Comments
I love this Debbie! Thank you for sharing.
I love how Jesus calls us to his rest. At that time the people he was speaking to were carrying the burden of the law. You can imagine trying to follow it because they loved God but messing up all the time. They were tired and weary. But Jesus made a way for us to learn from him and with him and doing so while enjoying his rest. Hallelujah!
Can't wait for your next blog!
Thank you, Debbie. This is such an encouragement for all of us as we go through our lives carrying our “bags” (physically and spiritually)…. Now when I choose one of my “many” bags to carry, it will be easy for me to remember the spiritual aspect of the “bag” and give my current issues to our wonderful Lord to handle since they are not heavy for Him. Praise God! Thank you for a beautiful blog,. Blessings to you.
This was so encouraging! Thank you, Debbie.
This is an issue I constantly have to work at. I'm inclined to pick up and carry burdens that I was not designed to carry. When my handbag is feeling too heavy, it's a physical reminder that I need to clear out some of the "stuff" that makes it that way. Same with our spiritual burdens. Since we tend to be worriers, I've often had the conversation about the difference between concern and worry. To me, concern motivates us to pray and rely on the Father. Worry motivates us to rely on ourselves.