Today’s guest post is from Jill Hart, founder of Christian Work at Home Ministries (CWAHM) and author of the recent release Do Life Different. Today’s post is an excerpt from Do Life Different. Enjoy!
They asked the Lord, “Has Saul come here yet?” The Lord said, “Yes. He’s hiding behind the baggage.” 1 Samuel 10:22 (NCV)
As we step into this story, Saul has just been chosen as the first king of Israel. Chosen by God Almighty and anointed by the prophet Samuel. Not long after Samuel tells Saul that he will be King, Samuel calls all the tribes of Israel together to make it official. He passes through each family until he comes to Saul’s family. He calls out for Saul, son of Kish. But Saul is nowhere to be found. In fact, they have to ask the Lord about Saul’s whereabouts before they can locate him. Come to find out, he is hiding behind the baggage. He is terrified of this new calling of God on his life.
I can so relate.
We often hide behind our own baggage, don’t we?
We let the self-doubt seep in and we douse ourselves with our own unkind words. I often catch myself in negative self-talk. No one wants to listen to you. You’re no one special.
I hide behind the baggage of my past. Partly because I know some of those things I say to myself have a grain of truth to them. (I really am pretty boring most of the time.) Partly because I let my baggage shape who I am today. And partly because I am afraid of stepping up and doing what God has called me to do.
So, I hide behind the baggage, speaking cruel words to myself. And then I wonder why I don’t feel fulfilled and happy.
It’s time to make a change. It’s time to step out from behind the baggage and into the truth of who God says we are, who we can be with His help.
Do you fill your head with mean-girl thoughts about yourself, too? Are you hiding behind the fear and baggage like Saul?
