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.
"In a broken world, we all experience hurt from our work. But there can be times when pain experienced in the workplace is emotionally devastating. In When Work Hurts, Herr is an empathetic guide, helping those who have been wounded at work feel seen and heard. Written from her own experience of pain in the workplace, her journey towards experiencing a renewed sense of calling, and grounded in Scripture, Herr gives gentle and wise prompts to begin the healing process, so we might reclaim a sense of hope in God's purposes for our work."
"The context of work has been a source of personal fulfillment and joy while also so much disillusionment, pain, and heartache in my life. In this powerful book that weaves together personal anecdotes and theological promises, Meryl Herr points us to a hopeful message that transcends our stories of work hurt without trivializing their impact. For those navigating past or present work hurt as they read this, I hope you will be encouraged—as I was—that our stories are located within a larger narrative that is still unfolding, and our co-laboring in stewarding God's creation is not in vain."
CONTENTS
1. When the Walls Fall Down
2. Feeling like an Exile
3. Learning to See in the Dark
4. Sensing a New Calling
5. Staying on Task
6. Making Sense of It All
7. Working in a Battle Zone
8. Being Exploited and Oppressed
9. Realizing It's Me
10. Remembering to Hope
11. Working in the New Jerusalem
Notes
