Have you ever tried to outrun or hide from your past? A lot of people are like the driver of the 18 wheeler speeding down I-40 in Arkansas. The trooper pulled behind the truck, turned on his lights, and the trucker did not stop. The trooper got right on the truck’s bumper, but the trucker kept right on going. The trooper turned on his siren, but the trucker only sped up. Finally, the truck ran out of gas and rolled to the side of the road. By now the trooper was beside himself in anger. He marched up to the trucker and yelled, “Sir, did you not see my lights?” “Yes sir, I did!” replied the trucker. “Did you not see me on your bumper for miles?” demanded the trooper. “Yes sir, I did!” the trucker said calmly. “Did you not hear my siren blaring?” the trooper asked. “Well, yes sir I did!” the trucker replied. In exhaustion the trooper finally said, “Then please explain to my why in this world you did not stop this truck?” The trucker actually looked relieved and replied, “Well you see about two years ago my wife ran off with an Arkansas State Trooper and I was afraid you were trying to bring her back!”

Wouldn’t it be nice to live our lives in such a way that we could be unafraid that our past would catch up with us one day? The truth is that many people I meet are carrying around all the baggage of their past. They are overloaded with the baggage of regrets, guilt, shame, failure, doubts, and hurts. They have tried to deny this baggage exists. They have excused it, repressed it, and have even redirected it. Still, they are bound down with baggage they can no longer carry.

Have you ever been there? Maybe you are there today and you are feeling the weight of your past. This baggage in your life is causing you to lose confidence in yourself and others. It is responsible for destroying relationships both in the past and in the present. This baggage is also robbing you of joy, meaning, and happiness in your current life situations.

Many of you today are looking to God for help when what you need is not God’s help. What you need is God! Trust Him today with that baggage in your life and carry those burdens no more. The Apostle Peter said it this way, “Cast all your anxiety (cares) upon Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).” Start living your life not looking over your should to the past, but looking ahead to what God can do in and through your life.