On Laying Down Our Burdens
By Marie-Ange Tagne
I am a technologist and product leader in tech. Those of you who work in this field know that it is dominated by workaholics and alpha types. We love to work. We aim to make the world a better place through the innovative technologies we build. Huge egos and competition are part of the game. Promotion and recognition are the metrics of success.
But there’s a lie being perpetuated in the tech industry. The lie is that we should be able to “do it all,” flawlessly balancing every aspect of our lives without feeling exhausted or overwhelmed. We compare ourselves to others who seem to have everything together, and we question our own abilities and worthiness. We feel like we are failing, which only adds to our stress.
As followers of Jesus, what we learn in the Scriptures contradicts the predominant ethics of tech. The Bible teaches us that we need Jesus everyday to live this life according to His promises and calling. We can't do it alone. We need His wisdom, strength, and grace.
Here is the invitation from the Lord:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Jesus beckons us to come to him when we are tired, worn out, and burdened by the weight of life. He understands our struggles. He offers us a profound truth: we don't have to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. Even as he calls us to be excellent in the workplace, he promises to show us how to take a real rest—not just physical respite, but also relief for our souls. He doesn't promise to remove all our responsibilities or challenges, but he does assure us that we don't have to face them alone. He invites us to walk with him, to work with him, and to watch how he does it.
Marie-Ange Tagne is a Product leader at Meta and works on product initiatives to keep billions of users safe online.
