Admitting our lives are cluttered is one thing—but admitting our souls are cluttered? That’s harder. We know God loves us. We’ve heard powerful sermons and experienced His hand in our lives. But if we’re honest, there’s still something deep down that feels off. Something unsettled. Jesus said He came so we could have joy—real, lasting joy that satisfies the soul. Yet, many of us are walking around with a quiet emptiness, longing for something we can’t quite name.
Sometimes we chalk it up to life just being hard. And yes, it is—but that’s not the full story. There’s a buildup happening inside. Disappointments, unspoken fears, heartbreaks we never fully dealt with. Add in the pressure to keep up, stay strong, and look like we’ve got it all together—and our souls start to feel crowded. Not just busy. Heavy. The truth is, even as believers, we can end up carrying things we were never meant to carry.
That’s why soul work matters. When we gave our lives to Christ, our spirits were made new. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) tells us, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” But that new life has to make its way into our thinking, our emotions, and our daily choices. Our souls still need to be renewed—and that takes intentional work. God won’t barge in and start throwing things out. That’s on us. But He has given us everything we need to do it—His Spirit, His Word, and His grace.
We have to get down to the core truth that Jesus Christ taught us: change begins internally first. Matthew 23:26 (NLT) tells us that he said, “You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.” If you’ve been asking God for a breakthrough that still feels stuck, maybe it’s time to check the condition of your inner life. Have you made room for what you’re asking for?
If you’ve been asking God for a breakthrough but still feel stuck, maybe it’s time to look inward and ask: Have I made room in my soul for what I’m praying for? Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) urges us to “strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.” And sometimes, the weight isn’t always sin—it’s clutter. Pain we haven’t processed. Old disappointments still lingering. Habits or attitudes that quietly crowd out our joy. Until we clear that space, our souls can’t fully hold what God is trying to give us.
This isn’t about performing or striving. It’s about surrender. God isn’t trying to shame us—He’s inviting us into freedom. Ephesians 4:23-24 (NLT) says, “Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” That means this work happens from the inside out. It’s about choosing, day by day, to let go of what clutters the soul so that we can walk freely in what God has prepared for us.
So ask the question: Lord, is there something in me that’s weighing me down? Don’t be afraid of what He’ll show you. His conviction always comes with compassion. And if He’s pointing something out, it’s because He wants you to walk in the healing that Christ sacrificed His life to give us. Let Him lead you. Let Him help you clear the space. And know with every fiber of your being that there’s a blessing on the other side of your surrender. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Making Room for the Blessing,” written by Rev. Fran Mack. Edits by Kim Times and K. Lizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.