A friend shared this with me and I just broke down . The Spirit touched my heart and as I sat there trying to compose myself during church, I was reminded of the baggage I still carried on my own. The load I carry is heavy—too heavy at times. I struggle with asking for help. Trauma has taught me to be over-reliant, doing things on my own. I needed this tender reminder. I am not alone and I do not have to do it by myself.

This, my loves, is one of the many aspects of the infinite Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We ALL have baggage—and lots of it. Yes, pain, disappointment, grief, etc, are part of this life, part of our mortal existence. It is there to help us grow and learn. Carrying it, though, is not a requirement. Christ invites us to cast our burdens upon Him. To trust Him. In other words, He will carry our baggage and lead us to whom we are supposed to be and where we are supposed to be—just as God planned.

…

Is it easy to do this? Sometimes. Sometimes not. We hold onto our baggage for various reasons—fear, doubt, insecurities, and so on. It can be hard to let go when you’re unsure of who you’ll be without it or where you’re headed. Shake off the shame. Own up to your broken pieces. It is part of your story. Our purpose for being on this earth is to learn, to grow, and to become who God wants us to become. The only way we can do that is through hardships. He knows this--it's His design, and that is why we have a Savior--to atone for our mistakes, pain, and sadness. I testify that Christ is real, He lives, and He is always there for you. The bruises and heartache of this world can only be truly healed by Him.

Not all is lost. Seek Him and you will find peace, love, and healing.

…

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or overburdened, I encourage you to take some time and evaluate. You will find more peace as you let go of things that are not for your highest good.

I came across this quote that put things into perspective:

“You’ll wait. You’ll pray. You’ll get frustrated. You’ll question everything. But you’ll continue to be patient. You’ll keep waiting. And you’ll keep praying. And one day, when you least expect it, it’ll finally happen. So don’t ever stop believing. Don’t ever stop trusting. And don’t ever stop hoping. God is so ready to give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of — but you have to understand it’s on His timing, not yours.” —author unknown

I promise you this – the more you trust and hand Christ your bags, the more He will bless you.

Sending you light and love,