There's More to Clutter Than Meets the Eye
August 14, 2026
You might be wondering why I’d write a blog about decluttering. Believe me, I thought long and hard about it, too. But one day, I knew women were out there praying for an answer, and I had help to give.
In my previous post, I gave some backstory about how I came to decluttering. We are preparing to downsize and move out of state, and we want to take as little as possible. My husband is retiring, but until he stops working, most of the sorting would fall to me.
I expected it to be a burdensome chore that I’d have to push through, especially with my mobility issue, but I discovered something else instead.
I started this blog, Clearing the Way, because there’s more to clutter than meets the eye. And THAT’s the stuff that trips us up and tempts us to quit. But quitting would mean missing out on a tidier home and forfeiting lessons that clutter can teach.
Clutter isn’t just physical.
Here are some things I learned about clutter
Some things leave easily.
Other things carry memories.
Some hold a sense of guilt or responsibility that weighs me down.
And some belong to a version of myself that doesn’t exist anymore.
That’s when I realized I wasn’t just sorting possessions. I was deciding what I wanted to keep in my life and what had to go.
One day, I decided to work on my craft supplies, specifically my card-making box. Now, I don’t recommend starting here, but I felt I was ready.
I went to the studio and gathered the various boxes and tools in my collection. I put everything on the table in front of me to see what I had, and I considered if I would use it in the future, or if I was ready to let it go.
I scanned the table, and my eye landed on the sample card I had made for my granddaughter’s baby shower. I fiddled with it as I considered the brads, ribbons, stamps, and pens that I’d collected through the years. Do I really want to spend my time making cards anymore?
Who am I now?
A client came to mind, and the conversation we had shortly after her husband died. She took care of him for so long, she didn’t know who she was anymore. To help her remember, I asked about her favorite color, and I’ll never forget her response. She lifted her chin, looked at me across the room, and quietly said, “I don’t even know that anymore.”
I sat in my studio with cardstock and ribbons, realizing that no one was telling me to throw things away. Decluttering was giving me the space to honestly acknowledge what was meaningful to me now, without guilt or judgment, and decide if it belongs in the life we are creating. The choice was mine.
At that moment, I felt the weight of my choice. I could hold onto things that belonged in another season of life, or I could embrace the freedom to grow into the woman I could be. To make room for her, some things had to go. After that, my decisions became surprisingly clear.
Decluttering is not the same as organizing.
I also learned that decluttering isn’t the same as organizing. My dusty boxes were (mostly) labeled and stacked in place. They weren’t disorganized, but they did fill space—even if I didn’t like or want what they held.
What surprised me most was how emotional this process can be. The “stuff” took up space in my house, mind, and heart. I wasn’t aware of how much it affected me. It became obvious, though, as things moved out of the house. I felt lighter, and the atmosphere was more peaceful. The room seemed to sigh. John noticed it too.
A few weeks into the course, I noticed a shift in me: Decluttering stopped being a chore I had to tackle and became a place to connect with God and myself. He met me when things got hard, and taught me lessons that I don’t think I could learn any other way.
My classmates shared stories in our Facebook group, and I moved from making accountability posts to engaging more about my experiences. Where many of us felt alone in our situations, the group showed us otherwise. We supported one another with practical suggestions, encouraged each other in hard times, and cheered one another on.
Then came the biggest surprise: the idea that I should start a blog.
I rejected the idea for weeks. Who would link decluttering and spiritual growth?
I kept up with the decluttering course and tried to shake the blog idea, but it was persistent. I know how easily we can lose sight of who we are in transition, especially after the kids are grown. It’s common to feel lost and confused when things are chaotic. I saw the need but still had doubts about the blog.
As I shared my experiences with the class, women began thanking me and telling me how my words described their feelings, too. It was humbling and inspiring to think that my writing could help improve their homes and relationships. Now, instead of doubting the blog, I began asking questions.
Through the decluttering process, I connected with the Lord in a new way, and those experiences strengthened me and helped me release emotional baggage like shame, guilt, and embarrassment. I saw that God was preparing me for this project long before I made my first donation. And my experiences as a practitioner, ministry leader, and life coach taught me how to help people navigate hard things.
Could it be that the Lord wants to use me to reach others, when I could barely walk through Trader Joe’s?
The thought of women like me looking around their houses and no longer feeling at home, wanting to be free from clutter but not knowing where to start stirred a passion within me. Before long, I couldn’t wait to offer encouragement and practical tips, and more importantly, to point them to God and let Him guide their process.
Perhaps that person is you. Maybe you felt something as you read those words. If so, you’re in the right place. And if you’re just curious about how to tackle the spice rack, you’re welcome here, too.
In the weeks ahead, I’ll continue this conversation about decluttering from three perspectives: the practical steps of clearing our homes, the emotional work of letting things go, and the spiritual practices that enable us to meet God in the process.
Clearing the Way exists for people like me who want to get untangled from things so they can step with joy into the future designed for them.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
—Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
I hope you’ll join me as I make this transition—not just from one home to the next, but as I clear out my thoughts and emotions along with cluttered spaces. Together, we’ll make room for more joy, peace, purpose, and understanding. We’ll discover what God has in store for us beyond the clutter, and cheer each other on.
I'm learning to be more intentional with both my thoughts and my things as we prepare for retirement and a major move. I'm sharing what I learn here on Clearing the Way—and I hope you'll find something helpful as you clear your own way forward. If you'd like to follow along, I'd love to have you join me.
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