When we travel, we often find ourselves burdened by luggage—whether it's checked bags or carry-ons, the weight of the baggage can feel overwhelming. I once had a travel experience that made me reflect on this idea of baggage. We were flying with Frontier Airlines, and as a family of four, we had to navigate the complicated baggage policy, where you could carry one personal item for free as long as it fits in a specific box. If it didn't fit, you were charged extra. I obsessed over the size of our bags, measuring and folding everything just right to avoid the hefty charge. When we arrived at the airport, I was so relieved to see that everything fit the requirements, but then came the fun part: watching other travelers struggle with their own oversized personal items. They tried to squeeze their bags into the box one by one, only to be met with the reality of an extra charge.
This experience made me reflect on how we carry our emotional baggage in relationships. When we carry too much—anger, unforgiveness, or bitterness—we find ourselves burdened, unable to move forward freely in our relationships or walk the path God has set before us. Just as I was obsessed with avoiding the baggage charge at the airport, we can become fixated on our emotional baggage, often failing to realize that it hinders our ability to grow and relate with others in healthy, Christ-centered ways.
The Baggage We Carry
Our emotional baggage often comes from our past hurts, unresolved conflicts, and unmet desires. Like physical luggage, these emotional burdens can weigh us down, affect our relationships, and prevent us from moving forward. James 4:1-3 teaches that much of our relational conflict stems from selfish desires and unmet expectations. We may desire to be loved in a certain way, validated, or given certain things, and when others don’t meet those needs, we quarrel, fight, or feel angered.
But here's the issue: When we hold on to these emotions and expectations, we carry excess baggage that isn't helping us. It is only hindering us from growing spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. In Ephesians 4:31-32, Paul instructs us to "get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" and instead to be "kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
The emotional baggage of bitterness, rage, and unforgiveness is like a heavy suitcase we insist on carrying. It doesn’t help us; it only weighs us down. The longer we hold on to these burdens, the more we allow them to dictate our actions, emotions, and interactions with others.
Losing Your Baggage
If we want to lose the baggage that is holding us back, we must first recognize that we have to let it go. Paul is clear in his message: to truly follow Christ, we must drop our baggage and be free of the weight that bitterness and anger place on our lives.
Forgiveness is the key to losing our emotional baggage.
Forgiveness Isn't Easy, But It's Necessary
Forgiveness doesn't come easily. It is a decision—a hard decision—to let go of the debt someone owes us because of the wrong they have done. In the Bible, forgiveness is the voluntary decision to cancel someone's debt, even when they may not ask for it or deserve it. Jesus made it clear when He taught us to forgive others just as God has forgiven us (Matthew 6:12). He demonstrated this forgiveness on the cross, where He willingly let go of our debt and canceled it with His death.
Forgiveness is the process of releasing the hold that someone’s actions have on us. It’s about saying, “You no longer owe me. I’m no longer holding this against you.” But it’s not just a mental decision—it’s a spiritual choice to trust God with the pain and the consequences. The more we focus on what Jesus did for us, the more we are empowered to forgive others.
The Motivation of Forgiveness
The motivation for forgiving others lies in what Christ has done for us. Ephesians 4:32 tells us to forgive one another just as God forgave us in Christ. Jesus, though innocent, chose to forgive the very people who crucified Him. When we understand the depth of God's forgiveness for us, we can’t help but extend that same grace to others, no matter how much they have hurt us.
However, this doesn’t mean that forgiveness is always easy. Sometimes, the hurt is deep, and the person who has wronged us may never ask for forgiveness. But we can still choose to forgive, not for their sake but for ours. Holding on to bitterness only keeps us chained to the past and prevents us from moving forward.
The Rules of Forgiveness
Travel Lightly
In Hebrews 12:1-2, we are encouraged to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles" and run with perseverance the race marked out for us, "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." Just as carrying unnecessary luggage slows us down during travel, carrying emotional baggage slows us down in our spiritual journey. Our emotional burdens—anger, bitterness, unforgiveness—only serve to entangle us, keeping us from running the race with perseverance.
The more we focus on Jesus and His forgiveness, the easier it becomes to release our emotional baggage. As we fix our eyes on Him, He provides the strength to forgive and move forward in freedom.
So, what do we do with the baggage we’ve been carrying? We need to drop it. Just as I was obsessed with ensuring our personal items fit the airline’s restrictions, we often become fixated on holding on to our emotional baggage. But this baggage only hinders us—it keeps us from moving forward in our relationships with others and God.
In the same way that we drop the excess baggage at the airport to avoid paying extra fees, we must intentionally drop the bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness we carry. It may take time and may not always feel natural, but forgiving others is the key to freeing ourselves from the weight of emotional baggage. Forgiveness allows us to experience the freedom Christ offers us—freedom to move forward, heal, and love others as He has loved us. Let go of the baggage and run the race marked out for you, fixing your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith.
This experience made me reflect on how we carry our emotional baggage in relationships. When we carry too much—anger, unforgiveness, or bitterness—we find ourselves burdened, unable to move forward freely in our relationships or walk the path God has set before us. Just as I was obsessed with avoiding the baggage charge at the airport, we can become fixated on our emotional baggage, often failing to realize that it hinders our ability to grow and relate with others in healthy, Christ-centered ways.
The Baggage We Carry
Our emotional baggage often comes from our past hurts, unresolved conflicts, and unmet desires. Like physical luggage, these emotional burdens can weigh us down, affect our relationships, and prevent us from moving forward. James 4:1-3 teaches that much of our relational conflict stems from selfish desires and unmet expectations. We may desire to be loved in a certain way, validated, or given certain things, and when others don’t meet those needs, we quarrel, fight, or feel angered.
But here's the issue: When we hold on to these emotions and expectations, we carry excess baggage that isn't helping us. It is only hindering us from growing spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. In Ephesians 4:31-32, Paul instructs us to "get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" and instead to be "kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
The emotional baggage of bitterness, rage, and unforgiveness is like a heavy suitcase we insist on carrying. It doesn’t help us; it only weighs us down. The longer we hold on to these burdens, the more we allow them to dictate our actions, emotions, and interactions with others.
Losing Your Baggage
If we want to lose the baggage that is holding us back, we must first recognize that we have to let it go. Paul is clear in his message: to truly follow Christ, we must drop our baggage and be free of the weight that bitterness and anger place on our lives.
Forgiveness is the key to losing our emotional baggage.
Forgiveness Isn't Easy, But It's Necessary
Forgiveness doesn't come easily. It is a decision—a hard decision—to let go of the debt someone owes us because of the wrong they have done. In the Bible, forgiveness is the voluntary decision to cancel someone's debt, even when they may not ask for it or deserve it. Jesus made it clear when He taught us to forgive others just as God has forgiven us (Matthew 6:12). He demonstrated this forgiveness on the cross, where He willingly let go of our debt and canceled it with His death.
Forgiveness is the process of releasing the hold that someone’s actions have on us. It’s about saying, “You no longer owe me. I’m no longer holding this against you.” But it’s not just a mental decision—it’s a spiritual choice to trust God with the pain and the consequences. The more we focus on what Jesus did for us, the more we are empowered to forgive others.
The Motivation of Forgiveness
The motivation for forgiving others lies in what Christ has done for us. Ephesians 4:32 tells us to forgive one another just as God forgave us in Christ. Jesus, though innocent, chose to forgive the very people who crucified Him. When we understand the depth of God's forgiveness for us, we can’t help but extend that same grace to others, no matter how much they have hurt us.
However, this doesn’t mean that forgiveness is always easy. Sometimes, the hurt is deep, and the person who has wronged us may never ask for forgiveness. But we can still choose to forgive, not for their sake but for ours. Holding on to bitterness only keeps us chained to the past and prevents us from moving forward.
The Rules of Forgiveness
- Forgive Freely: True forgiveness is given freely, without conditions. We forgive because we have been forgiven.
- Forgive Fully: Forgiveness is not partial. When we forgive, we let go of all resentment and bitterness. There is no room for holding grudges once forgiveness is extended.
- Forgive Forever: Forgiveness is permanent. It’s not a one-time thing but a continual process. Just as God’s forgiveness toward us is everlasting, so must ours be toward others.
- Forgiveness Can Be Seen: Forgiveness is not just a matter of the heart but reflected in our actions. If we have forgiven someone, it will be evident in how we treat them—forgiveness results in kindness, compassion, and a willingness to restore relationships.
Travel Lightly
In Hebrews 12:1-2, we are encouraged to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles" and run with perseverance the race marked out for us, "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." Just as carrying unnecessary luggage slows us down during travel, carrying emotional baggage slows us down in our spiritual journey. Our emotional burdens—anger, bitterness, unforgiveness—only serve to entangle us, keeping us from running the race with perseverance.
The more we focus on Jesus and His forgiveness, the easier it becomes to release our emotional baggage. As we fix our eyes on Him, He provides the strength to forgive and move forward in freedom.
So, what do we do with the baggage we’ve been carrying? We need to drop it. Just as I was obsessed with ensuring our personal items fit the airline’s restrictions, we often become fixated on holding on to our emotional baggage. But this baggage only hinders us—it keeps us from moving forward in our relationships with others and God.
In the same way that we drop the excess baggage at the airport to avoid paying extra fees, we must intentionally drop the bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness we carry. It may take time and may not always feel natural, but forgiving others is the key to freeing ourselves from the weight of emotional baggage. Forgiveness allows us to experience the freedom Christ offers us—freedom to move forward, heal, and love others as He has loved us. Let go of the baggage and run the race marked out for you, fixing your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith.
Posted in Baggage