Packing Light: Letting Go of What We Can’t Take to Heaven

Life with Christ is a journey—a pilgrimage, a race, a long walk home. And like any long journey, how we pack matters.

If you’ve ever tried to hike with a bag that’s too heavy, you know the toll it takes. Your back aches. Your steps slow. You start asking questions like, Why did I bring this? Do I really need it?

As a father, I know this all too well. On family outings, I’m usually the designated pack mule, carrying not just my own bag, but diaper bags, snacks, sippy cups, stuffed animals, and the occasional toddler. It doesn’t take long before I’m wondering why I thought we needed five types of crackers and three backup outfits.

The weight adds up quickly.

The writer of Hebrews puts it this way:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)

Lay aside every weight. Every unnecessary burden. Every tangled-up sin. Every emotional backpack full of shame, regret, fear, and worry.

Because here’s the truth: You can’t run with full hands. And you can’t travel light if you’re clinging to what Christ has already freed you from.

1. Let Go of Continued Sin

Some burdens we carry because we won’t let go. They’re comfortable. Familiar. Private. Or maybe we’ve convinced ourselves they’re too small to matter.

But sin—especially the kind we silently excuse—slows us down more than we think. It pulls our hearts in a thousand directions and clouds our intimacy with God.

“Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God… For sin will have no dominion over you.” Romans 6:13–14 (ESV)

We were not saved to limp through life, dragging chains we’ve already been set free from. Jesus broke them. Leave them.

2. Let Go of Shame and Regret

Other times, it’s not present sin that weighs us down—it’s past sin.

We’ve repented. God has forgiven. But we keep replaying the moment. Rehearsing the guilt. Punishing ourselves long after the cross has declared, “It is finished.”

Here’s a truth we all need: God does not rub our noses in forgiven sin.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 (ESV)

If God has moved on from your sin, you can too. Let your past drive you to Jesus, not drag you from Him.

3. Let Go of Worry and Anxiety

Not all burdens come from sin. Some come from fear. We worry about the future. We worry about our families. We worry about things completely outside our control.

But Jesus offers a better way:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest... For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28, 30 (ESV)

And Paul echoes it:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 (ESV)

The antidote to anxiety isn’t just “try harder.” It’s “draw nearer.” Jesus invites us to trade the unbearable burden of self-reliance for the light yoke of trusting Him.

And when we struggle to let go, the Serenity Prayer offers a simple yet profound framework for surrender:

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.”

That’s not just poetic. It’s practical. I find myself returning to these words often—especially when worry creeps in or I start trying to control things that were never mine to carry.

4. Let Go of the Need to Prove Yourself

One more weight we often carry? The need to prove ourselves—spiritually, socially, or professionally.

It’s easy to let performance drive our worth. To measure ourselves by productivity or praise. But the gospel gives us rest.

“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3 (ESV)

You don’t have to earn the love you already have. You don’t have to build an identity that Jesus has already secured. The cross has already declared your value, and no success or failure can change that.

5. Let Go of Control

This one’s tough, especially for those of us who like having a plan, a backup plan, and a spreadsheet.

We like to feel in control. We want to manage outcomes, predict the future, and steer the ship. But often, our desire for control is just fear in disguise.

Letting go doesn’t mean being passive; it means trusting that God is a better driver than we are.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)

God’s not asking you to map the whole route—just to follow Him step by step.

A Final Thought

Imagine standing at the gate of heaven, arms full of earthly baggage—sin you didn’t need to cling to, guilt you weren’t meant to carry, anxiety you never surrendered. And Jesus gently saying, “You could’ve given all of that to Me.”

You don’t have to wait until then.

Start unpacking now. Let go of what you can’t take with you. Run lighter. Love deeper. Walk freer.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.” Psalm 55:22 (ESV)

You’re a pilgrim. You don’t need to carry everything - just what’s essential. Letting go is hard, but remember, we’re packing light for a better destination.

Until the journey is complete,

Jonathan Pilgrim