How Much Storage Do We Need?

It doesn’t matter how many garage sales I have, how many bags I donate, or how many full trash cans I cart to the curb. The stuff in my closets multiplies behind closed doors like proverbial rabbits. And I’m not the only one dealing with a storage problem.

The market for storage bins and totes is projected to grow from $12.75 billion in 2024 to $18.50 billion by 2033. That’s almost a 50% increase in 9 years! And the proliferation of storage units available for lease in every city offers suitable ways to handle our overflowing possessions.

Of course, the need for additional storage is not limited to our homes. The same trend is seen in how we use technology. We purchase computers with increased memory to avoid running out of storage capacity. And our smartphones are estimated to be 5,000 times faster than the CRAY-2 supercomputers celebrated in 1985.

So how is this related to the Christian life?

Store or Toss?

As Christians, we store much in our memory banks that God never intended for us to keep, such as:

Unconfessed Sin

Storing unconfessed sin is not only a destructive weight on our mind, will, and emotion, it is also a barrier that interferes with our intimacy with our heavenly Father. As John wrote in 1 John 1:9 (ESV), “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

When we confess our sin, we’re not telling God anything He does not already know. But we are acknowledging that we see our sin as He sees it and we call it what He calls it, enabling us to receive His forgiveness and cleansing.

Unforgiveness

Jesus warned against our natural tendency to expand mental storage spaces to nurture unforgiveness. In Mark 11:25 (ESV), He said, “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Notice the context for His command. We often move on with life—including spiritual actions such as prayer—while maintaining deeply buried unforgiveness. Jesus tells us to pause and release that weight, freeing us to receive the Father’s forgiveness.

Resentment

Resentment is another attitude we cultivate and store. But Hebrews 12:15 (ESV) reminds us, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”

God’s grace unlocks and opens our storage units to clear out resentment before bitterness can take root in our hearts and minds.

Regret

Regret can consume us as we obsess over a past that cannot be changed. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV), “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret.”

Looking back with regret is only helpful if it motivates us to live differently as we look forward.

Pride

Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8 (ESV), “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”

Paul wasn’t writing about his failures; he was writing about his accomplishments as a respected Pharisee. But he understood that allocating storage space for pride could only hurt him instead of helping.

Shame

Storing shame in our hearts and minds can leave us paralyzed with condemnation and defeat. But Paul wrote in Romans 8:1 (ESV), “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

While guilt can help us see our need for repentance and salvation, shame corrupts not only how we see ourselves but also how we think God sees us. Aren’t you glad the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to confirm that those who trust Christ as Savior are children of God and no longer stand condemned?

Instead of storing these and other items in mental and emotional bins and totes, let’s clean out the closets of our hearts and minds to expose and expel the things God never intended for us to hold on to!

What else have you been storing that you might add to this list?