Published by IVP on March 11, 2025
Genres: Non-Fiction, Christian Life, Work
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
Sometimes Work Hurts
We might be discouraged, disillusioned, or devastated by our work. We might experience trauma or harassment on the job, or we may have experienced work loss by getting fired. If you've been beat up, burnt out, or brokenhearted by work, you're not alone.
The Bible tells us that work will be difficult—filled with thorns and thistles—but no one prepares us for the pain we experience on the job. In When Work Hurts Meryl Herr
• Explores the emotional, relational, and vocational pain that work causes and helps us rebound and build resilience so we can fully participate with God in his mission,
• Walks through the biblical story of the Israelites' journey of exile, return, and rebuilding as a framework for spiritual and practical resources for navigating work loss, and
• Shows that we can take comfort in the fact that God is at work in the midst of our work to bring healing and hope."This book is a timely, uplifting resource that speaks to both the heart and mind. With a deep understanding of Scripture and descriptions about her journey, Herr expertly helps readers who want to integrate faith into their professional lives and navigate workplace challenges to reclaim a sense of purpose and hope." – Library Journal Review, February 2025
I am not the intended audience for this book. However, even though work is going very well for me right now, I wanted to read this book related to some friends’ traumatic experiences in their jobs. I also hoped that reading this would convince me that I can survive if work ever stops being great for me. Work is the one sphere of my life where I am truly thriving right now, so it has become more important to me than ever before. This book delivered on my expectations, and also helped me process difficulties in other areas of my life.
When Work Hurts is a helpful guide for people who are dealing with a variety of issues like burnout, dysfunctional workplaces, job loss, harassment at work, or a mismatch between their daily work and their callings. Meryl Herr draws on biblical teachings, sociological research, and personal interviews to explore different issues related to work hurt. She also shares examples from her own life, often in a very witty and self-aware way. Herr never makes light of the suffering that many people experience in their work lives, but lightens the mood at times with funny commentary about herself.
She also weaves in narratives about the Babylonian exile in Jewish history, and uses the story of Nehemiah as a powerful illustration. She draws from multiple different books of the Bible that covered aspects of this story, and she highlights key events and unpacks their broader implications for our lives, especially when it comes to trying to plant yourself, thrive, and do good work in the midst of difficult and oppressive circumstances that you cannot do much to change.
When Work Hurts: Building Resilience When You’re Beat Up or Burnt Out is a compassionate, helpful guide for people who are struggling with their jobs. The personal stories will validate people in their experiences, and the research, opportunities for reflection, and biblical wisdom will encourage people as they process their situations and pursue what might be next for them.