109. Work Hurt: How Stress, Grief, and Burnout Impacts Our Bodies and Souls | Meryl Herr

In this episode of the Joyful Health Show, I interview Meryl Herr, researcher, consultant, and author of When Work Hurts. We talk through how work stress impacts our bodies, minds, and spiritual well-being. If you're like us and have ever felt worn out by work but didn't feel validated enough to express it or that you had to simply push through, it's time we address the hidden hurt behind our work, what God says, and what we can do about it. Here’s what we cover: Meryl’s personal story of ambition, disappointment, and navigating career expectations  What “work hurt” actually is—and how it affects us through burnout, GI distress, headaches, and spiritual disillusionment What the Bible says about work and work hurt Practical steps to process work hurt, seek support, and move forward with hope and wisdom We want you to walk away knowing that it's okay for work to hurt, but you don't have to bury it. Hold space for that pain in prayer, partner with God in His Kingdom work, and let's go forward with greater resilience together. "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58 Helpful Timestamps:  05:11 Health Impacts of Work Hurt05:35 What Counts as Work09:51 God's Design for Work and Rest13:47 Untangling Work Hurt16:40 Journaling and Support18:43 Building Resilience19:24 Calling Beyond Your Job22:17 Holding Onto Hope ✅ Click here for the full blog post with more resources.  If you liked this episode please consider rating and reviewing the show! Give back and help someone else cut through the weeds of wellness culture and discover joyful health, by grace. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.”  If you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode and timely announcements. Let's keep setting others free to ditch the guilt and pursue joyful health, by grace!  ☀️ Get your free 5-Week Bible Study on Body Image Chapter here 🎉 Find freedom from dieting and get healthy the joyful way with our signature course Connect with me: joyfulhealth.co | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube