Descriptions of Seven Baggage Types:

Generational Sin

Any wrong attitude, action, belief, behavior, and/or habits that we inherited from our parents. The reason we act the way we do is because these attitudes and actions were modeled and repeated over and over for us growing up. These attitudes and behavior tend to be passed from one generation to the next, and the next, and the next. Examples of generational sin: worry, anger, unfaithfulness, financial irresponsibility, alcoholism, greed, laziness, control, etc. Thankfully, Jesus Christ can break any cycle of generational sin.

Abandonment

Abandonment is experienced physically and/or emotionally. It is when you physically experience being left completely, forsaken utterly, or deserted totally. It is also experienced emotionally when people give up, withdraw, or discontinue a relationship with you. This could be experienced through a death, divorce, breakup, move, or a dissolved relationship. Fortunately, a God that will never leave or forsake you can fill the emptiness that the baggage of abandonment can bring!

Enabling

Enabling is when irresponsible behavior is allowed or justified. Then, when accountability and consequences are in order, an enabler rescues the guilty from the payment that is due. Enabling is often disguised as “love” but is in fact, not loving at all. Enabling is even disguised as “helping” but is in fact, hurting. When we enable, our irresponsibility will eventually become someone else’s responsibility. Enabling allows for lying, laziness, promiscuity, cheating, anger, etc. to foster, grow, and produce a harvest of pain for many people. Providently, there is life giving freedom when the baggage of enabling is vanquished.

Starvation

Starvation is being deprived of unconditional love and emotional nourishment. It’s growing up where love, acceptance, worth, and security wasn’t given freely or unconditionally. It’s also where there is malnourishment with appropriate physical touch. As a result, one will be on a desperate search for what is lacking, often with foolish appetites; where what is bitter will taste sweet. Thankfully, God can provide us the proper nourishment we need to live a fulfilling life of deep satisfaction.

Father Wound

Fathers provide the foundation of security and significance in our life. However, if this foundation is broken, absent, or in great need of repair, the father wound impacts every area of our life and every relationship in our life. Deep down in the crevices of our soul, whether we realize it or not, our father is who we need, who we long for, and who we crave for love and acceptance in life. The good news, it’s never too late to experience freedom from this baggage. Even if your father has died, God can heal this deep wound in ways that no human can.

Anxiety

Fear and anxiety are like cousins; they are different although closely related. Fear is a reaction to a specific, observable danger, while anxiety is an unfocused, objectless, future-oriented fear. Anxiety is an irrational, “what if” kind of worry. Sometimes anxiety is rational. Oftentimes, it is irrational. No matter what kind it is, anxiety will damage your physical body, affect your quality of life and your relationships.  Thankfully, God’s word provides us the antidote to anxiety, worry, and angst. 

Fear

Fear is paralyzing. It can hold us back from trying new things, taking risks, reaching out for new friendships, or builds walls that keep others from getting close enough to hurt us. Its bondage is suffocating. Its chains are constricting. Its power is overwhelming. However, fear holds no power over Christ who can release you from the clutches the chains of fear has on you.