I feel sure that one of the reasons I have neck and shoulder issues is because of the heavy luggage and purses I have carried through the years. One day it finally clicked in my brain that I had to change something, that I needed to learn how to travel light before I severely injured myself from the load.
Learning to travel light took many years of practice. Then I found out that I not only needed to travel light on the outside, but on the inside as well. I discovered that darkness and heaviness on the inside would leave me with mental and emotional challenges. I would become weighted down from the load, unable to think or feel clearly. My mind would become boggled and my emotions way out of place.
I understand why Hebrews 12:1-2 exists. We are exhorted to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and run the race with perseverance marked out for us.” We are then told to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith....” The Father knew that we would be tempted to carry what was not meant for us.
As I have already noted, too much baggage on the outside and inside can be detrimental to our physical and inner health. However, traveling light on the inside according to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and empowerment leads to good from the inside out! As we rely on Him, He not only tells us what to carry, He also enables us to do so.
Photo credit: Freshh Connection on Unsplash.com.
Another form of baggage is clutter. Clutter in your physical environment can feel like clutter in your inner life also. In what ways may you need to de-clutter at work and in your home? How would this de-cluttering affect your inner life? Would you breathe a little easier? Would life seem a little lighter? These are important questions to consider.
We have an enemy whose job is to burden and weigh us down with heavy, cluttered-filled lives. But Jesus didn’t die for us to live heavy, cluttered-filled lives. He died to set us free from baggage, clutter and the bondage of sin. He died to give us a life of freedom from the inside out. What is He asking you to let go of today, so that you can travel light?
Sometimes, we may not be aware of the load we are carrying, but others may notice. The light in our eyes has grown dim and we no longer have any pep in our step! Our verbal and non-verbal language communicates that we are barely making it. We are barely traveling, let alone traveling light. Hopefully we have people in our lives who will speak the truth to us—those who will tell us what they see. We need at least one or two people like this who will care for us in such a way, who will lovingly speak the truth.
I wonder how unbelievers view us when we struggle. They are smart enough to know that life isn’t always easy. I believe the watching world is waiting to see authentic Christians who will share the good, the bad and the ugly. I think they are often curious as to how Jesus really can make a difference. We have the privilege of sharing what we are learning on this journey of faith. I know that for me, there was a time when I felt I could not share my struggles with unbelievers. I felt that in doing so this would dishonor Jesus. I only wanted them to see the victorious side. Even though it took a while, I finally learned the value of sharing the struggle and the victory that Christ afforded me. I have seen others encouraged by this honesty.
I am grateful for God’s word! Matthew 11:28-30 has helped sustain me through the years: “Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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.” Amen! Traveling light comes from the true rest that we find in Christ alone. Only Jesus can give us the rest that we need in our souls. Soul rest equals traveling light!
So the next time you feel burdened and heavy laden, ask for God’s enablement to travel light. He will show you the way and empower you to walk in it. You will find rest for your soul and a lighter journey. Travel light.
Skip McDonald is an author, speaker, nurse and resource specialist for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship—a college campus ministry. Skip has a passion for wholistic living in body, soul and spirit. She champions mental and emotional health, notably in the faith community. As a psychiatric nurse and Mental Health First Aid Instructor, she brings a wealth of experience. She is currently writing several mental health Bible studies, looking at Scripture through the lens of mental and emotional health. She is the founder of Integrative Grace, LLC, a discipleship ministry and Freedomsize Worship Fitness, LLC.
Skip is the author of “Christ, My Life-The Great Exchange,” “The Garden of My Heart” and “And She Lived Happily Ever After.” She resides in Smyrna, GA serving with InterVarsity in the southeast. She can be contacted through skipmcdonald.org.
