Lost Luggage

“The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever.”

Psalm 121:8 HCSB

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.“

Psalm 55:22 HCSB

Has your luggage ever been lost?

My older son enjoys traveling to visit other countries. On two of these trips, his checked luggage has been lost by the airlines. He’s gone a week or more waiting to be reunited with his bag!

The first time, he purchased a shirt and hat to add to his backpack’s wardrobe. Recently, he was more prepared and had enough clothes to rotate through, washing them in the sink and letting them dry overnight.

My husband and I prefer driving to destinations with our vehicle loaded, complete with all of the “what if’s” and “just in cases” we can think of. We struggle to push everything down so we can see out our back windows. We’re burdened by the amount of stuff we have to shuffle through and carry around, which tends to weigh us down and limit our travel excursions. Plus, it’s difficult to find what we need when we need it.

I’m reminded of the question which was often asked in my youth; “If you were going to be stranded on an island, what 5 things would you pack in your bag?” It’s meant to help us focus on what is most important. How would you answer this question?

We now have the flexibility to send bags or boxes ahead of us to our destinations and order a variety of items for same day delivery from Amazon. So why do many of us still overpack?

My son has decided that, for his next trip, he’ll make the 4 hour drive to an airport with a direct flight to his final destination to avoid missing a connection or losing his luggage! And I’m sure he’ll pack a little lighter, knowing he doesn’t need much to get by.

Our daily lives can become just as burdened by responsibilities and items that we don’t need to carry around. The Lord tells us to cast our burdens on Him in Matthew 11:28-30. “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for vacations that allow us to get away from our everyday lives and do something special. Thank You for Your willingness to lighten our load by taking away our burdens. Please help us to willingly lay aside what weighs us down as we travel through this world. In Christ’s Name, Amen.

Journal: What burdens are you carrying today that need to be handed over to God? Is there any “luggage” you need to let go of before starting the next part of your journey? Share your answers with the Lord.