We ran out of packing tape the other day. I rummaged through the laundry room cupboards, certain there were spare rolls somewhere. I eventually gave up and added tape to my shopping list, noting that my storage was officially a disaster zone in need of an intervention.
We all have that space—a drawer, a closet, or a corner of the bedroom (in my case, all three). These are the landing pads for things we intend to deal with LATER. Paid bills, books to shelve, Christmas decorations that did not fit back in the box, and past issues of the local newspaper. It isn’t just me, right? You have that overfilled drawer holding three dead batteries, a mystery key, and a coupon for a pizza place that went out of business in 2019.
But “later” is a fickle friend who rarely arrives. Thankfully, we have a couple of months of spring-cleaning potential before summer officially arrives (although I might need a few calendar notifications to get me off my couch in those spare moments). As we peek out of winter hibernation like groundhogs checking for shadows, we might also notice some spiritual clutter has collected during the deep freeze. Let’s dig into those messy spaces together (without leaving the couch).
The Just-in-Case Box
Do you have a box from a 2014 appliance, just in case you need to return or resell it? Me, too. Many of us have emerged from winter with a stash of “What Ifs” in the back of our minds. Even when life is good, we hoard anxiety like extra cardboard. Instead of storing hypothetical disasters, 1 Peter 5:7 suggests a better way: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” It is time to break down the boxes for the black bin.
The Mystery Key
You likely have a key that fits no known lock in your house, yet you are terrified to toss it. In our spiritual junk drawers, we often keep mystery keys of old offences or tiny bits of bitterness. They do not open any doors; they just take up space and weigh us down. Forgiveness is essentially clearing out the keys that no longer serve a purpose. The Lord’s Prayer reminds us to ask God to forgive our sins “as we have forgiven those who sin against us”. If it doesn’t open a door to love, toss it.
Expired Coupons
If you are a clip-and-save person, you have likely kept a coupon for a store that no longer exists. Are you also holding onto a version of your life that never happened? We often compare our current reality to a timeline we thought we would have met by now. Do not let old expectations block fresh blessings. Romans 8:28 assures us God is still working for our good. You cannot sign for a new delivery if you are too busy clutching old paperwork. Use the black bin.
Tangled Cables
We all have it: a bird’s nest of old USB cords and flip-phone chargers that will never be untangled. Spiritually, this looks like the mental energy we spend on guilt or shame. Why trip over cables that God has already disconnected? His grace is the ultimate cord organizer. Romans 6:14 says, “Sin is no longer your master… You live under the freedom of God’s grace.” Stop trying to untangle the past and let Him recycle it.
Bubble Wrap
Unless you are the bubble-popping type, you probably have piles of bubble wrap saved for wrapping something fragile. Coming out of this cold season, have you wrapped your heart a little too tight? Sometimes we keep people at a distance to avoid being hurt, but that padding also blocks out the warmth of community and God’s love. It is scary to be vulnerable, but growth only happens when we take off the plastic. Is it time to join a small group at church?
As I finish this blog, I realize I could have tidied my bedroom corner in the time it took to write this. But that is a sermon for another day! For now, can we prioritize clearing out the spiritual clutter so God has room to move? He is waiting patiently to fill those empty drawers with His love and grace.
Valda Goudie is a teacher and author of the Tickle Me with a Crowbar! Series. If you enjoy jokes and riddles and encouraging words like those above, follow her on Instagram @valdagoudie to enjoy her TUESDAY TICKLE and FRIDAY FUNNY posts.
