How Therapy and Faith Help Us Unpack Life’s Baggage
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Since 2022, every two weeks I’ve sat down with my wonderful therapist. Our sessions are like opening a suitcase I’ve been carrying for years. Inside are pieces of my story: current stresses, old wounds, even memories I thought I had neatly tucked away. We take them out, one by one, and look at them together. Some are light, some are heavy, but all of them matter.
And here’s what I’ve learned: the unpacking isn’t the hardest part. Talking through my experiences comes naturally once I start. The hard part is deciding what to do with it all. Do I put it away in a healthy place? Do I release it and let it go? Or do I leave it scattered about, hoping it won’t get in the way?
Therapy has helped me see that I don’t have to answer those questions alone. My sessions are part of the healing work God is doing in me. The counselor helps me process, but God is the one who gives me strength to actually put things in their rightful place.
Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 5:7 to “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” That verse has become an anchor for me. It’s not just about unloading. It’s about trusting God with the placement. When I leave my cares in His hands, I don’t have to keep carrying the weight.
Healing doesn’t happen overnight. Just like my every-other-week counseling rhythm, it’s a process. Each time I open that suitcase, I’m learning how to unpack with God’s grace and put things back in a way that makes room for peace. And little by little, the load feels lighter. Praise God!
Let’s pray:
Lord, thank You for being so patient with me as I unpack the suitcase of my life. Thank You for using wise counselors and safe spaces to help me face what I’ve carried for so long. Give me courage to keep opening up, and teach me how to place everything in Your hands. Amen.
Remember:
Healing is a process. Unpacking with God’s grace helps us put our hearts in order and find peace.
Reflection Questions:
If your heart were a suitcase, what might be inside right now?
What makes “putting things away” (healing, letting go, or moving forward) difficult for you?
How can you invite God into your process of counseling, journaling, or prayer this week?
Who is a safe person you can share part of your journey with, knowing God works through community?
SAVE ON PINTEREST!
Make sure to check out the podcast
Regina is a writer, homeschooling mom, and owner of a comfort food catering business. A contributor to several publications, she is also an advocate for young adults with developmental disabilities and serves on the Compel Pro volunteer leadership team. Living in Ohio with her family, she designs Squarespace websites for fellow creatives and spends her free time cheering her sons from the sidelines or sipping tea while chatting about God’s goodness with women.
