21st Jan - Why Sweeping Things Under the Carpet Is Costing You More Than You Think

I was vacuuming the floor the other day and had one of those very ordinary, but revealing thoughts.

Wow… so much stuff gets under these mats.

Crumbs. Dust. Random bits of life you don’t even notice in the moment. Nothing dramatic or particularly messy or gross....Nothing you’d stop your day for. Just small things that quietly collect.

And it struck me that we can do the exact same thing with our lives.

Over the course of a day… a week… a month… we pick up stuff. A comment that stung. A moment that offended us. A worry we didn't deal with. A disappointment we pushed past because we were - (as one of my daughters loves to say) - “just fine.”

Individually, this stuff feels small. Almost harmless. Like a few crumbs on the floor. Not a big deal right?

But the accumulative effect? That’s where the issue comes in.

Imagine never vacuuming or sweeping a floor - ever - but continuing to live in that space. Some mess would be visible, but a lot of it would stay hidden and swept little by little under the mat. Still there. Still building. Still affecting the room, even if you stopped noticing it. It' not a problem until it becomes bigger - where people start tripping over it, vermin are attracted to it, and people get sick.

That’s what happens when we keep sweeping emotional, spiritual, and mental clutter under the carpet.

And over time - not days, but years - that weight becomes enormous. It drains our energy and dulls our joy, potential, creativity and enthusiasm. It quietly pulls us away from the life Jesus talks about.

“I came that they may have life and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”John 10:10 (AMP)

The abundant life isn’t usually stolen in one big moment. It’s worn down slowly… by the little things we never dealt with.

The Bible actually warns us about this kind of slow build-up:

“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards.”Song of Songs 2:15 (NIV)

It’s rarely the big disasters that undo us first. It’s the "little foxes." The unspoken and unresolved things in our lives which are quietly building up in the background. The things we told ourselves weren’t a big deal.

And here’s a key:

Instead of accumulating the dirt - the cares, worries, and weights of the world - we’re invited to be intentional about what we build and allow into our lives. To invite Jesus into our hearts so that He can help us keep our life uncluttered, free and light. Where we feel burdened he says bring that stuff to me and I will give you rest and show you a better way to live.

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (- Jesus)

Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

“Do not worry about anything, but in every situation… present your requests to God.”Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

“Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - think about such things.”Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

We will accumulate something. The question is what.

Today, I encourage you to ask yourself:

What do you want to keep carrying into this year? What do you want to build as part of your life? And what is long overdue to be swept up, and vacuumed away?

Because whether we acknowledge it or not - when we don’t deal with things, we’re not getting rid of them. We’re just hiding them "under the carpet."

And eventually… they make themselves known - usually heavier, and messier than they ever needed to be.

Action Steps

1. Take five quiet minutes today and ask: What has been weighing on me?

2. Write down three “small things” you’ve been brushing past lately.

3. Pray over them - make sure you don’t minimise them, because God doesn’t

4. Choose one thing you’re intentionally letting go of this week.

5. Replace it with something good

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Prayer

Lord, thank You that You care about the little things in my life - even the things I can overlook, minimise, or hide. Please help me notice what I’ve been carrying or "sweeping under the mat" that You never asked me to hold. I want to live freely and lightly - Give me wisdom to guard my heart and courage to clean up and deal with those things that I've been avoiding. In Jesus' name Amen.