Who among us is without burdens? From a delayed flight to a late mortgage payment, a term paper due on Friday or a seriously ill family member, all of us have times when we are disheartened and discouraged along our way. Sometimes it seems our baggage is too much to bear.

Jesus sends an invitation: “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

This seems too good to be true, and yet it is true! Jesus said that we are to come to Him if we are weighted down by the baggage of our lives and He will give us rest from our burdens because he can carry them when we can’t. Now, Jesus isn’t saying your life will be easier if you come to Him and follow Him. But He promises to give you rest, and to ease your burdens.

Of all possible burdens, many people are burdened by the thought of, “What happens after I die?” While there are many people who are already secure in knowing that Jesus will carry them into a life in eternity with God, there are many others for whom the answer to this question remains their biggest burden.

The Bible reveals God’s plans and commands for how to live in perfect relationship when Him and with others. Yet, all of us, at various times, have chosen to follow our desires instead of His desires. We call these acts “sin.” Sin makes us less than perfect. It separates us forever from God, who is perfect and sinless. Since God is the only one who gives eternal life, separation from Him will eventually lead to death when our time is over on earth. That would be a horrible burden to bear. Or … maybe not!

God loves us too much to let us die an earthly death and not live in eternity in Heaven with him. Knowing that we are helpless to save ourselves, He sent His son, Jesus, to take on the burden of all our sins and to die with them on a cross. By having our sins taken away, we are restored to God’s perfect, sinless state that allows us to be in His presence again.

As proof that life in eternity does exist, God raised Jesus from the grave just three days after He was nailed to a cross. The Bible reveals to us that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

If you desire to have this burden lifted from your life and want to begin a relationship with Jesus that will not only ease the burdens of your life here, but completely eliminate them in your life with God in Heaven, perhaps you can pray something like this:

“Lord, I’ve lost my way and believe your way is better. I want to follow it. I have arrived at this crossroad in my life, and I choose to believe and confess that you are the Son of God. I want to know you. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I ask you in to my life as my Lord and Savior.”