Embracing Grace
How many of you are perfectionists like me? As I am writing this devotional, I am going through my own therapy as the Lord is currently having me go through a journey of recovering from a perfectionist mindset and a lie that I should be able to do it all on my own.
I am a technologist and a product leader in the Technology Industry. For those of you working in the Tech field, this is a dominant male world, full of workaholics and alpha-type personalities. 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.
The lie perpetuated in the Tech industry 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 it all together while questioning our own abilities and worthiness based on others. We may even feel like we are failing in some areas, which adds to our stress and burdens.
Yet, as followers of Jesus, what we learn in Scripture is counterculture to the Tech world. The Bible teaches us that we need Jesus every day 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.” - Matthew 11:28-30
In fact, Jesus offers us a different perspective. He beckons us to come to Him when we are tired, worn out, and burdened by the weight of life. He understands our struggles and offers us a profound truth: we don't have to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders alone. Even as He calls us to be excellent in the workplace, we don't need to do it alone. He promises to show us how to take a real rest, not just physical rest, but also rest for our souls. He doesn't promise to remove all our responsibilities or challenges, but He assures 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.
By Marie-Ange Tagne