Have you ever wondered, “If this is what I'm called to do, why does it hurt so much?”

Work can shape us, stretch us, and give us purpose. But it can also leave us disappointed, disillusioned, discouraged, or devastated. And when our work is connected to our sense of calling, work hurt can feel deeply personal.

In this episode Lindsay connects with Meryl Herr, author of When Work Hurts, to talk about the pain we experience in our work and what faithfulness looks like in the middle of it.

Meryl helps us name the different ways work hurt shows up and invites us to consider how our work can become intertwined with our identity and our sense of worth.

Takeaways

The four kinds of hurt and why knowing which one you’re experiencing matters.
How naming our work hurt can be a first step toward healing and resilience
What everyday faithfulness looks like in the middle of hardship
Practical ways to practice job crafting and reclaim agency
The danger of conflating our worth with our job
Why dealing with our work hurt is an important part of faithful discipleship

Episode field note: Meryl suggests we deal with our work hurt.

Chances are, you have work hurt. Take some time to reflect on your work hurt. What happened? What did it stir up in you? Try using the four categories we talked about (disappointment, disillusionment, devastation, and discouragement) to help you name what you've experienced. And then bring it to God.

Being a leader means going ahead of the people you're leading in the work of your own healing.

Resources and links

Meryl’s book: When Work Hurts

Meryl’s website: https://merylherr.com/

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Head to Spiritual Leadership, Inc to take a look at resources for ministry leaders.