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Traveling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear

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"Traveling Light" is a book about the divine love of God. In its pages, Max Lucado conveys God's loving desire to be called in times of need. He also counsels us to offer God all of our burdens, the luggage of our wants, worries, hopelessness, guilt, arrogance, grave, grief, fears, loneliness, shame, disappointment, envy, doubt, homesickness, etc.

In Traveling Light, Lucado provides magnificent insights of the Twenty-Third Psalm. He also gives a few lessons on livestock; for instance he says, "In ancient Israel shepherds used oil for three purposes: to repel insects, to prevent conflicts, and to heal wounds...Sheep get hurt. As a result, the shepherd regularly, often daily, inspect the sheep, searching for cuts and abrasions... we have wounds, but ours are wounds of the heart that come from disappointment...and so just like sheep, we need to be treated...He will do for you what the shepherd does for the sheep. He will tend you... only God can heal..."(126-129). One may not finish this book prepare to raise sheep but one may definitely finish it ready to begin a Shepherd/sheep relationship with God. What more could we ask for?

Lucado's sense of humor makes his teachings easier to understand and fun to read. He also uses words in such a way that he helps one see things under a total new perspective; like when he explains that "God is the God who follows" (146). I think that the idea of having an almighty God, the God who created the stars, following us anywhere we go is absolute terrific. Who are we to deserve such a treatment?

And while taking a journey in this world, who will help us create a relationship with God? The King of kings, our sweet Jesus, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for the sheep, explains Lucado. How about our luggage? Leave it at Calvary. Max Lucado writes, "The path of righteousness is a narrow, winding trail up a steep hill. At the top of the hill is a cross. At the base of the cross are bags." (67) And it is there exactly where he invites us to leave all of our burdens. And what will we do today? About today Lucado reminds us of Jesus' words,

"So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matt 6:34 - 51/Traveling).

This is the first Max Lucado book (well, book) I've ever read and no words in my venacular can praise his work enough. It has so inspired and blessed me!


Traveling Light is based on the old (and one of the most famous Psalms) Psalm (23) by David the King. Lucado guides the reader with such tenderness, light-heartedness (and I mean it... You won't believe how quirky and witty he can get *Grin*) and insight into the very heart of the Psalm and God, eventually.

I enjoy thoroughly the way Lucado writes about his personal encounters as well as draws experience from others (from his wife to Moses) to illustrate each topical aspect of the Psalm. And it really helps you to see the big picture about vital life lessons such as pride, want and fear.

Apart from that, each topic is supported by reading references and questions that challenge you to probe further until you get a satisfactory answer for yourself! His intuition to human needs is amazing: Lucado is able to ask questions which I have long wanted to ask, and gives answers in his writing.


It's a brilliant book. What more can you ask for if a Psalm barely filling up a third of a page in a typical Bible is turned into sort of a guidebook comprising 220 pages? Truly, God must be in this writing. And if Max ever gets to read this book review, I'd like to thank him... For his modest sharing :o)

As a pastor, Max Lucado knows that people carry a lot of baggage with them. This baggage includes worry, guilt, arrogance, discontent, grief, fear, loneliness and shame. He knows that the antidote to these attitudes is found in the 23rd. Psalm. In each chapter, Lucado uses a phrase to illustrate how God rescues us from negative thinking and old attitudes which are a deterrant to a fulfilling life. He shows that relying on God and turning our problems over to Him, allows us to get on with the business of life in a much more positive and constructive way. Readers will see themselves in the chapters which describe the human "baggage" that we carry and will feel relief in the solutions that Max Lucado offers through faith in God. This is an uplifting and encouraging book.

I'm in love with Max Lucado's works. And, one should be! The way Lucado writes in every chapter, in every book somewhere everyone has experienced some trial in their life. Lucado is surely blessed by the spirit of God to write so many beautiful, inspirational books. Lucado covers about every situation you can imagine he's amazing. The Lord Jesus is AMAZING!

In this title, 'Traveling Lightly', Lucado looks at and uses as a guide the Twenty-Third Psalm. . .

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want . . .

Each chapter takes each verse of the Psalm, step by step. Until you unload that heavy burden of luggage. The one you've been carrying around needlessly most all of your life. Because you are NOT ALONE!

No matter where we are in our life. Or, what we're doing in our lives. Even through the trials and turmoil the Lord is with us. That's how much He loves us.
Though we may experience discontent, weariness, worry, hopelessness, guilt, arrogance, trying to be perfect, fear, loneliness, shame, disappointment, envy, doubt, grief and even facing death and loss. Even the homesickness for Heaven. He is NOT far away. The Lord Jesus follows us and NEVER leaves us, nor forsakes us. We were NEVER intended to bear such burdens. Jesus did it for each and everyone of us. Jesus wrote the book on salvation. He stands at the door of our hearts. Waiting. To give you that free gift of His perfect Grace.

In our journey of life we're intended to enjoy it without carrying all the stuff around. Most of us step on the baggage carousel and load up. This book guides us step by step from each verse of the Twenty-Third Psalm. After we're all done. We've dropped everything. Free to enjoy life like we should. With the help of the Savior who did it all. So that we could have the peace and the freedom to live happy lives. Perfect love casts out fear [I John 4:18].

I highly recommend this wonderful, helpful book. For supplemental reading also try 'The Spellbinder's Gift' by Og Mandino, 'God in the Dark' by Os Guinness, and 'A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23' by Phillip Keller. If you're looking to slow down from the choatic life see what the power of this book can teach you.

How often do you wake up and ask yourself, "another day, how can I get through it?" Are you tired? Stressed out all the time? Pull up a comfortable chair, and curl up with this book. Lucado takes you through the great shepherd Psalm of David, "The Lord is my shepherd..."

If you are grieving, this book will bring tears of consolation to your cheeks. If you are wondering how much longer you can go it alone, this book will bring tender solace. Filled with inspiration, this book is worth it's weight in gold. Read it today!

By scripture support we can release strife especially when we have spiritually directed teachers like Max! Another good book like this is Karl Mark Maddox's SB 1 or God

This book was the first in a long line of Lucado books that I have read. After close to 3 years of running from God, I turned my life around. This was the first Christian book that I've bought in a long time. The main thing that stuck out to me, besides the comedy, was that Max has a great grip on reality. I've heard a lot of long-winded preachers who think that they know everything and I was just a dumb kid. Max seems to be just a normal guy who understands the word and knows how to come across without making you feel stupid. I feel like I am reading advice from my father. It has only been a month since I read this, and I have already read another title of Max's and started a third. He has really helped me.

Wow! Lucado does it again. I was just feeling a little weighted down when all of a sudden I was surfing in Amazon.com and read a review about this book "Traveling Light" by Max Lucado. So I decided to look inside the book and turned to the part about a couple getting married and how they felt happy about the idea that their partner would either fix them or release them of their insecurities etc....... I was curious from that point on so I turned to another part of the book were Lucado explains how we always want. He gives reference to a top excutive who tells how he lost everything in his business. The minister replies," Oh I'm sorry to hear that you've lost your faith."
"No", replied the man, I haven't lost my faith'
"Well, then I'm sad to hear that you've lost your character."
"I didn't say that," he corrected. "I still have my character.'
"I'm so sorry to hear that you've lost your salvation."
"That's not what I said," the man objected. "I haven't lost my salvation."
"YOU have your faith, your character, your salvation. Seems to me," The minister observed, "that you've lost none of the things that really matter.
These are just a few of the examples Lucado uses to demostrate the meaning of the most beautiful psalm in the Bible and how it applies to our lives now.
Lucado's wit and humor make this book an easy read but yet a profound statement is made in every chapter. Today more and more we carry alot of burdens as Lucado states. For instance he covers in his book to name a few, "The Burden of Worry," The Burden of hopelessness," and The Burden of loneliness," how many of us can related to one or more of these. His prose is reassuring and convincing that the solution lives in our faith in the Lord. And we need to give our luggage to God. He will never forsake us. There are lots of examples throughout this book that will help anyone who reads it to better understand how the Lord never forsakes us and we need to give our burdens to him. Please do not pass this one up it is enjoyable to read and yet an eye opener to those of us who felt we needed to carry all the weight. Don't forget to check out Lucado's chapter on "Almost Heaven," it will make your heart swell with delight. God Bless

Max Lucado uses his sense of humor and ability to illustrate personal experience and anecdotes to make clear to the reader how the 23rd Psalm applies to each and every person, regardless of which burden that person struggles with carrying. Max breaks down the 23rd Psalm and explains each little part of it and how it applies to the reader's life (example - Max explains how "you are with me" from the 23rd Psalm means that when we are feeling burdened with {or lugging around an empty bag of} loneliness, that God has promised to be with us and never leave us. Lucado also presents possible reasons for why God might allow us to feel lonely, and how we can remedy that lonely feeling). Max also explains how Jesus is our shepherd and we are his sheep, and explores possible reasons why David chose this analogy for his psalm and not some other comparison. I liked how the discussions on different topics (about the 23rd Psalm and about burdens as well as about other ideas) were not superficial and Max addressed different feelings I had but didn't really stop to think about until it was mentioned in the book. Spending time with Traveling Light helped me recognize the extra baggage of burdens that I have been lugging around, and ways that I can set those burdens down and trust God to carry them for me. What Max had to say makes sense to me and brought a new meaning to the 23rd Psalm and also gave me a lot to think about (but I don't mean worry about - which is a burden we don't have to carry - I took away a refreshed spirit and hope in my heart from reading the book).

If you want to go to the next level in your Christian walk, Traveling Light is a must read. Max Lucado, incidently my favorite author, has beautifully illustrated through the 23rd Psalm how to rid ourselves of the baggage that weighs down our spiritual lives. Simply written, with easy-to-understand analogies, he gently guides us into truthful examination of ourselves and easy steps to rid ourselves of each piece of luggage. My favorite characteristic of Lucado's books is they are based on Scripture. Also, with the study guide at the back, they are an excellent tool for bible studies/discipleship groups. This book in particular would be excellent for a discipleship group. I guarantee that once you read Traveling Light, you will never ever look at the 23 Psalm the same again. Truly the Lord is our Shepherd and we are His sheep.