When God Starts to Unbox You

Ladies, let me tell you something wild. Early in January of 2025, I had this vision of myself in a box. Not a cute little decorative gift box with glittery wrapping and a bow — no, this was the kind of box you get when you move houses. A brown cardboard thing, taped up and way too small for the amount of life stuffed into it.

And in that box? Me. Running around in circles, bumping into the sides, out of breath, frustrated, trying to claw my way out but somehow stuck.

And then God whispered, “I’m getting ready to unbox you.”

Now, let me just pause right there. Because at first, I thought maybe He meant spiritually, like He was about to expand my faith. But little did I know He meant the whole package — career, location, lifestyle, family rhythms — everything. Because guess what? My husband and I are moving to Mexico. Not just another neighborhood. Not just another city or state. Nope. A whole other country.

Talk about unboxing.

The Great Unboxing

Unboxing isn’t always neat, though. Have you ever opened a box from the attic that you forgot about, only to find random things inside — half a Christmas ornament, a cord you don’t remember owning, and a letter that makes you cry? That’s how life’s transitions feel. You think you’re just rearranging a little… and then boom, God has you unpacking everything.

For me, that meant stepping down as an associate pastor after years of ministry. That meant selling things I thought I couldn’t live without. That meant saying “see you later” to family and friends. That meant learning how to trust God in a bigger way than I ever had before.

But isn’t that what life does to all of us? Whether you’re moving across borders, sending your kid off to high school, facing an empty nest, or even adjusting to an adult child moving back home — it’s all unboxing. Transition forces you to open up, look at what’s inside, and decide what stays and what goes.

The Humor in the Chaos

Now, you know me — I can’t tell this story without the humor. Because if you can’t laugh while your whole life is being upended, then you’ll just cry until your face puffs up.

So picture this: me, sitting in my living room, surrounded by piles of “to keep, to sell, to donate” boxes. I’m sweating because of course, the hot flashes pick the most inopportune times to show up. My husband is calmly sorting through his things, and I’m over here arguing with a coffee mug like, “No, you can’t go. You’ve been with me through everything.”

Sis, it’s a mug. From Dollar Tree. Why am I crying?

Because unboxing is not just about stuff. It’s about the emotions attached to the stuff. It’s about realizing that sometimes you’ve been holding on to things — and even people — that don’t fit the next season God is calling you into.

The Spiritual Side of Unboxing

Here’s where it gets deep.

When God unboxes you, He’s not just rearranging your outside life. He’s rearranging your soul. That vision I had of running in circles inside that box? That was me clinging to what I knew, even when it no longer served me. And the thing about God is, He doesn’t just rip open the box and say, “Go free!” He starts gently pulling things out, piece by piece.

And it’s uncomfortable.

But here’s the truth — you can’t step into freedom if you’re still trying to decorate your prison.

The Steps: How to Handle Your Own Unboxing

Because I know I’m not the only one in transition. Some of you are unboxing after divorce. Some after retirement. Some after kids leave for college. Some after a diagnosis that flipped your whole world upside down.

So here are some practical tools for unboxing:

1. Name the Transition
   Don’t dance around it. Don’t downplay it. Say it out loud: “I’m moving to a new country.” “I’m starting over after divorce.” “I’m stepping into empty nesting.” Naming it takes away some of the fear.
2. Allow the Mess
   Every unboxing is messy. Boxes everywhere. Tears, doubts, awkward moments. That’s normal. Stop expecting it to be Instagram-pretty. Let it be human.
3. Release What Doesn’t Fit
   Just like clothes from your 20s that no longer zip up — some things just don’t belong in the new season. That includes relationships, routines, or even mindsets.
4. Hold On to Anchors
   Not everything gets tossed. Some things — faith, family, values — come with you. Find your anchors and keep them close when everything else is shifting.
5. Laugh at the Ridiculous
   Sis, if you can’t laugh when you’re hot flashing in a moving truck, what can you do? Humor lightens the load.
6. Trust the Bigger Picture
   Transitions feel random, but they aren’t. God wastes nothing. That awkward box you’re unpacking? It has purpose, even if you don’t see it yet.

The Wine at the Table

If we were all sitting around my dining room table right now, sipping tea, wine, or coffee (because everybody brings their own vibe to the table), I’d lean in and say this:

You don’t have to have it all figured out. None of us do. You just have to take the next faithful step.

And maybe, just maybe, stop fighting the unboxing. Because what if the freedom you’ve been praying for is on the other side of letting God unpack the parts of your life that you’ve kept taped up tight?

My Mexico Unboxing

For me, it looks like a new address in a new country. It looks like embracing a slower pace. It looks like letting go of the title “staff pastor” and embracing “life coach, podcaster, writer, encourager.” It looks like trusting God with the unknown.

And trust me — I’m still in process. I’m still side-eyeing that coffee mug I don’t want to let go of. But I also know this: the God who called me is faithful.

Encouragement for You

So, sis, what’s your unboxing?

Maybe it’s not a move across the border. Maybe it’s learning how to enjoy your own company. Maybe it’s figuring out how to love yourself again after heartbreak. Maybe it’s adjusting to your new body in midlife, with all its surprises.

Whatever it is — you’re not alone.

Unboxing is scary. It’s messy. But it’s also freeing. And the beauty is, on the other side of the box, there’s room to breathe, laugh, and live fully.

Hot Flashes & Cold Truths with Antoinette McCormick
Because unboxing isn’t just about cardboard boxes — it’s about life, faith, and finding freedom in the mess.

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