Junk

Do you ever think about junk?  Junk is a collection of things that have no meaning or value or are of low quality.  Every home has one: the junk drawer.  You know the one — where mismatched batteries, expired coupons, and keys-to-nowhere pile up “just in case.” It looks harmless on the outside… shut the drawer and no one knows the chaos exists. But every now and then you tug it open and think, HOW did all of THIS get here?  Junk can come in any size or shape, and it varies in composition from person to person. 

The adage, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” holds so much value and meaning, otherwise, what would be the point in yard sales and thrift stores?  I have a friend who absolutely loves yard sales and thrift stores.  When she comes to visit, she insists I take her to our Goodwill, and we typically hit the local second-hand stores too.  She never leaves them with fewer than 3 or 4 bags, and each item she purchases has struck a chord with her heart and she just must have it.  Some things border on being true junk, but again, whose definition are we using?  I have another friend that has every available counter, shelf, or wall space filled with trinkets and baubles, that you can hardly see the bones of the house.  For her, it’s absolutely comforting.  She’s content with all of her “things” that have zero value to anyone but her. 

For me, items don’t become junk until they’ve lost their purpose or usefulness, or I’ve just forgotten I had them.  I have storage tubs in my garage filled with things I just can’t part with yet, but without opening them, I couldn’t tell you what I’ve got out there.   I would imagine most of them can now be classified as junk, since I haven’t needed them, used them, seen them, or thought of them for many years.  How important could they be, right?   I tend to put things out of sight because I don’t do well with clutter.  It makes me antsy to have “stuff” everywhere, so it will end up in a tub or closet and out-of-sight, out-of-mind, I forget about it.  Hence, they slowly evolve into junk

Our hearts can be the same way.  We tuck away old disappointments, fears we don’t want to admit, bitterness that still stings, or guilt we’ve convinced ourselves we deserve to carry.  From the outside? We look fine. But internally, that clutter keeps us from easily finding the peace, joy, and purpose God lovingly offers.  So, what does heart-cleaning look like?

3-Step Heart Clean-Out Guide

1.  Dump it all on the table
Bring everything to God honestly.  Even the messy pieces. Even the ones you think He must be so tired of by now.  He’s not. “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7

2.  Sort the trash from the treasure  Ask yourself:  What am I holding onto that no longer serves God’s purpose in my life? What should be released so something better can take its place?  What truth has been buried under the clutter?  Some of you need to put this on your bathroom mirror: God never intends for us to store shame and fear — those get tossed.  Ps 32:5 MSG “…then I let it all out; I said, “I’ll come clean about my failures to God.”  Suddenly the pressure was gone—my guilt dissolved; my sin disappeared.” 

3.  Designate new space for grace
Make room for the good things He is bringing.  Let forgiveness, compassion, and confidence in Him take the top drawer now. Allow room for fresh joy, renewed hope, deeper relationships and a new identity rooted in Christ.

Because a clean heart helps us reach what matters — quickly.  There will be no more rummaging through lies to find truth.  No more cluttered living masked by a tidy exterior.  Just a heart cleared out, open wide, and ready for whatever God is placing there next.

Here’s a simple prayer to close the drawer:   Lord, take what I’ve hidden away.  Help me sort through what stays and what must go.  Create order where chaos lived and fill every empty space with Your love.  Amen.

Ez 35:26 “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”     

• Ann-Marie Reynolds