You Can’t Run When You’re Holding Suitcases

When I shared this in my Facebook Group, Wendy said, “Thanks for this. I’ve broken down in tears twice today, and I’m not sure why but I needed to read this today.” I hope this message written by my friend Lisa will give you hope, and the encouragement to lay your burdens down. The Lord is ready to do the heavy lifting.

I’m thinking of my friends who have heavy suitcases today. They weren’t always heavy, but something happened that made it so: a death, a diagnosis, a heartbreak. And as much as the rest of us talk about getting rid of baggage and letting it go, there is no letting go for them.

We are tourists, passing through this world, and I’m not sure why some get luggage that is so lightweight with handles and even spinners on the bottom!

Then other people get huge, heavy-as-lead suitcases with no handles or wheels. And they have to carry that suitcase around every day, every moment, everywhere they go!

If that’s you, I just want you to know God sees you and what is required of you every day. I don’t know why your load is so heavy, but I do know this…that God will repay every gram of heartache with a thousand pounds of joy. Anything you’ve had to give up will be returned to you better than new. And the joy you once knew will come back like a spring of freshwater quenching your parched tongue, thirsty for hope.  I pray you find a way to leverage your loss into gain before your colossal repayment arrives. May you open your suitcase and find you have an amazing set of tools to lighten the suitcases of others, putting wheels on the bottoms and foam liners around the handles. Just know there is an expiration date on your suffering.

In the meantime…You are loved. You are cared for. And God is with you.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30