Emotional Baggage: It’s Time to Let Go

In our previous post, we talked about soul ties—those deep emotional, mental, and sometimes spiritual connections that can keep us bound to past relationships, even when we know they’re unhealthy. But what if I told you that soul ties aren’t the only things holding you back?

Sometimes, it’s not about who you were connected to; it’s about what you’re still carrying. That’s what we’re talking about this week: emotional baggage.


What is Emotional Baggage?

Think of baggage in the literal sense. When you travel, you pack a bag—sometimes light, sometimes heavy. Now imagine carrying around a massive, overstuffed suitcase everywhere you go. No matter what you’re doing, it’s always there, weighing you down, making every step harder than it needs to be.

That’s exactly what emotional baggage does. It’s made up of all the pain, heartbreak, disappointment, and unresolved issues you carry from your past. It’s the hurt you haven’t healed from, the bitterness you haven’t let go of, and the burdens you were never meant to carry.

Maybe you were betrayed by a close friend. Maybe someone walked out on you when you needed them the most. Maybe life didn’t go the way you planned, and now you feel stuck—weighed down by the past, unable to fully embrace the present.  And the worst part of all of these? You don’t even realize how heavy it is until it starts affecting your relationships, your choices, and even your ability to trust God. But do you know the beautiful thing? God doesn't want you to carry it alone. 


You don’t have to figure life out all by yourself. You don’t have to bear all your burdens alone. Jesus never intended for you to live exhausted from the weight of past pains and disappointments. He wants to exchange your burdens for His rest. That’s why in Matthew 11:28, He extends an invitation:

"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

There’s a rest that God gives, and it’s nothing like what the world offers. It’s the peace that doesn’t fade when life gets hard. It’s the joy that doesn’t break under pressure. It’s healing that actually makes you whole. Jesus wants to give you that wholeness if you would run to him. Let's look at some of the signs that might show that you are still carrying emotional baggage.


Signs You Are Carrying Emotional Baggage

  • You struggle to trust people. Maybe you’ve been hurt so many times that you now expect disappointment. Even when people genuinely care about you, you find it hard to open up.

  • You react to current situations based on past pain. A simple disagreement turns into an argument because you’re unconsciously reacting to an old wound.

  • You replay past hurts over and over again. You keep revisiting what happened, analyzing it, and feeling the same pain as if it just happened yesterday.

  • You fear vulnerability. You avoid deep relationships because you’re scared of getting hurt again. You’ve built walls to protect yourself—but those same walls keep love, healing, and joy out.

  • You find it difficult to move forward. No matter how much you try, something always pulls you back into the past.

If any of these sound like you, you’re not alone. Jesus is here for you, and I would love for you to say this short prayer after me:

"Father, I come before You with all the burdens I’ve been carrying—hurts, disappointments, fears, and wounds I haven’t fully healed from. Lord, I don’t want to live weighed down by the past anymore. Today, I choose to lay it all at Your feet. Heal my heart, renew my mind, and give me the strength to let go of what no longer serves me. Help me to trust You completely and walk in the freedom You have already given me. Thank You for loving me so deeply. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

Now, let's consider some practical steps on how you can break free from emotional baggage.


Breaking Free from Emotional Baggage

1. Acknowledge the Baggage

You can’t heal from what you don’t acknowledge. Pretending you’re okay when you’re not will only keep you stuck. Be honest with yourself and with God.

Look at Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:10-20. She was deeply hurt, mocked, and misunderstood. She carried the weight of unfulfilled desires and disappointment. When she prayed, she was so broken that Eli thought she was drunk! But instead of holding onto her pain, she poured it all out before God.

You can do the same. Be real with God about what’s weighing you down. He’s not intimidated by your pain. He just wants you to surrender it to Him.


2. Release It to Jesus

1 Peter 5:7 says:

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

The key word here is "cast"—not gently place, not hold onto just in case—you throw it at His feet and leave it there.

Jesus is more than capable of carrying what you were never meant to carry. But you have to be willing to let it go.



3. Forgive and Let Go

This one is hard, I know because I have been there. Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing what happened. It means releasing yourself from the hold it has on you.

Holding onto unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer. It only hurts you.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:14:

"If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."

Forgiveness is freedom. Let it go—not for them, but for you.


4. Renew Your Mind

You have to stop replaying old wounds and start renewing your mind with God’s truth. Romans 12:2 says:

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

You can’t embrace healing while still holding onto the same toxic thought patterns. Replace the lies of the enemy with the promises of God.


5. Surround Yourself with the Right People

The people you surround yourself with matter. Healing happens in a community. Don’t isolate yourself—find godly friendships that encourage and uplift you. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us:

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

Let God bring healthy relationships into your life. Don’t push away the very people He’s sending to help you heal.


Finally...

I desire to see you flourish and become all that God has for you—not limited by past pains, past hurts, or the disappointments that may have come from those you once held dear. Come into the embrace of our Lord Jesus Christ. His arms are wide open, ready to receive you. He wants to give you a fresh start, a renewed hope, and I sincerely pray that you will embrace all that He has for you.

From the beginning of this month, we’ve been on a journey of healing from past pains and hurts:
  • The first edition—Heal Before You Deal—helped us understand why healing is necessary before stepping into something new.
  • The second edition—How to Break Free from Soul Ties—showed us the unseen bonds that keep us stuck in cycles we need to break free from.
  • And now, we’re wrapping up with Letting Go of Emotional Baggage—because I don’t want you carrying old wounds into the beautiful future God has for you.

I intentionally spoke about all these so your heart can fully receive and embrace love—the right kind of love. Because you deserve the love that is whole, pure, and purposeful.

I know that moving on isn’t easy. Some days, the weight of what you’ve been through may feel unbearable. But you weren’t created to carry this burden alone. Jesus is still calling out to you: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). His peace is waiting for you.

And guess what? In the next series of blog posts, we are diving fully into purposeful love—what it means, how to navigate it, and everything in between. I hope you’re just as excited as I am! God is writing a beautiful love story for you—one filled with healing, joy, and wholeness. 

If you need to reach out to me, please do not hesitate. I am here for all your questions and clarifications.


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