What’s In the Bag?

We all carry something—hidden weights that shape the way we walk through life. Some of it is inherited, passed down through generations like family heirlooms we never asked for. Other pieces of baggage are packed by our own hands, shaped by our experiences, relationships, and fears. Whether we realize it or not, these burdens weigh us down, keeping us from moving freely and fully into the life God has purposed for us.
Growing up, I often felt sore and afraid, wondering why I had to carry certain responsibilities at such a young age. I remember being just six years old, begging my mother not to drink, watching over her when I needed her to watch over me. Those sleepless nights planted questions in my heart about why things had to be the way they were. But they also taught me lessons I would carry into my adult life—lessons about resilience, responsibility, and, most importantly, faith. The problem is, we often get so used to carrying our baggage that we forget it’s even there. It becomes part of the background, like an app running unnoticed on your phone, draining your battery without you realizing it. We push through, thinking we’re managing, all the while wondering why we feel stuck, heavy, and unable to move forward. In Proverbs 13:12, we’re reminded that “hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” So many of us live with deferred hope, holding onto dreams and desires that seem just out of reach. We convince ourselves that things will get better someday, not realizing that the weight of the past is what’s holding us back. The baggage we carry affects our mental health, our relationships, and even our ability to see God’s plan for our lives.
In What’s in the Bag?, I explore the various forms of baggage we carry—emotional, mental, spiritual, and even physical—and how they shape our behavior and perception. But more than that, this book offers a way forward. It’s about identifying the dysfunctional patterns we’ve allowed to define us and learning to replace the contents of our bags through God’s transforming power.
I’ve experienced firsthand how letting go of past hurts and misplaced expectations can open the door to true freedom. I’ve seen God strip away what I thought I needed, only to reveal that everything I was searching for had already been deposited within me. As we journey together through these pages, you’ll discover how God uses challenges to shape us, and how the weight of the world pales in comparison to the freedom of living with purpose.
Each chapter is a reflection of the process I’ve been through—and continue to go through—of unpacking my own baggage. From understanding why I’m here to recognizing the unnecessary weight I’ve been carrying, I share personal stories, practical insights, and biblical wisdom that will help you do the same. Because the truth is, you can’t heal in the same place you got sick, and you can’t step into the future God has for you if you’re still holding onto the past.
In one particular chapter, Baggage Comes in All Shapes and Sizes, I reflect on a time when my son and I were exercising our faith while trying to get home from the airport. It was a lesson in how faith can differ between people and how that impacts the outcome. My son and I didn’t have the same level of belief in that moment, but God still showed up—just as He does for us when we exercise faith, even if it’s as small as a mustard seed. What I came to understand from that experience is that the way we carry our baggage—whether we’re trying to handle it on our own or trusting God with it—can determine whether we stay stuck or move forward.
I want you to know that your baggage doesn’t define you. It’s just something you’ve picked up along the way, and with God’s help, you can put it down. You can lighten the load and move freely into the purpose He has for your life. Whether you’ve been carrying the weight of past mistakes, generational dysfunctions, or simply the expectations of others, this book will help you unpack it all and walk into the freedom of purpose.