Mark 8:34

Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “if anyone wishes to follow Me (as My disciple), He must deny himself (set aside selfish interest), and take up his cross (expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come), and follow Me (believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, I need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me).

When we understand that we gain eternal life by taking up our cross and following Jesus, it is not a burden. The benefits of being a follower of Jesus outweigh our selfish interests and desires. When we conform to and live our lives according to Jesus’ example, we gain the ability to endure.