Women, Work, and Calling: Step into Your Place in God's World

by Joanna Meyer

Women now have professional opportunities beyond what previous generations ever imagined. But as our roles in public life have grown, the church's vision for women's work and calling has not grown with us, leaving us feeling isolated and under-resourced. Christian women face multiple tensions between home and work, navigating complex gender dynamics in the workplace and social pressure to hold together picture-perfect lives.

Joanna Meyer addresses a critical gap in Christian women's discipleship by speaking to the roles we play in public and professional life. Acknowledging the brokenness of workplaces and industries, she provides a theological framework for women's work and influence and offers resources for the challenges of working life. This book will help

Ignite your vocational imagination, with a biblical framework for work and calling.Build strength from within, with emotional and spiritual health to support your work.Navigate common workplace challenges, with practical tools to help your influence grow.Pursue purposeful relationships, collaborating and building strong relationships with others.Learn from the lived experience of godly female leaders and discover how women can have a redemptive impact through our work.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Womens, Theology, Faith

118 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2023

Reviews

[Emma Colón · Rating 1 out of 5]

i thought this would redeem itself, because parts 3 + 4 actually give some solid practical advice backed by good research. but then it ended by placing all the impetus and blame on women to fix the relationship between men and women in the workplace. i was ASTOUNDED by how the author’s advice was to “check your attitude” and “pray for god to heal your perspective”, while there was ZERO acknowledgment of the pain and damage patriarchal structures have caused to break that trust in the first place or the responsibility of those who uphold patriarchy to mend that trust.

also why are the majority of her citations old white men??? for a book that says it is trying to re-envision women in the workplace, it certainly does not have an expansive range of research that offers new or unique perspectives.

i knew going into this i was probably not going to like it and that i wasn’t the intended audience for it. but after giving it a chance, i have to say that i am only left feeling extremely disheartened by the fact that this is what christian women are being led to believe about themselves and the world around them. :/

[Emily Beazell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found myself quite disappointed with this book. The first part laid a strong foundation, but the momentum built in the first part fizzled. It felt like a bunch of fluff. While it acknowledges realities professional women face, like the gender network gap and the lack of mentorship women receive in the workplace, it offers no true solutions or even a sense of camaraderie. It over-spiritualizes real issues women face everyday in professional settings.

The assumption of the audience in Meyer’s writing is a shy, quiet, stereotypical evangelical woman. What about those of us who have been chastised for our ambition and drive? Again, this book lacked depth for the realities women face and paints a pretty spiritual picture. All true things,but ultimately it lacks grounding in women’s lived professional experiences.

[Hannah Swedberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ small book with big reminders and a few lessons learned!

[Megan Bevers · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read, encouraging, helpful read to engage practically with work and calling. The author discusses a variety of topics such as mentorship, rest and avoiding burnout, and growing in humble confidence. Although I didn't love that the author chose to focus on women being the ones to restore a tense relationship between men and women in the workplace, one short book can't address everything.

Overall, I thought this book was a balanced view of theology and practical application in the work environment. While the beginning addresses SAHMs, this book is mainly written for women in work or volunteer settings, or for those re-entering the workforce.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women, Work, and Calling offers a cursory overview of many topics relevant to working Christian women. The book is divided into four sections: 1) an introduction to a biblical theology of work and calling, 2/3) challenges women face in relation to work and corresponding encouragements, and 4) tips for improving workplace relationships. Each chapter starts with an almost devotional-style commentary related to the topic that includes Scripture and/or quotes from successful working women followed by practical implementation tips and concludes with reflection prompts.

The book is short and serves more as general encouragement rather than a deep dive into women in the workforce. I think that the author did a great job presenting the theology and importance of work in the early chapters. I do wish that she had gone into more depth about several topics, though.

While relevant to women who work or volunteer, I would not recommend this book to full-time stay-at-home moms unless they are considering re-entering the workforce. While motherhood certainly is work and a calling, this book is geared towards vocational work. In fact, the lack of discussion on motherhood was my biggest complaint about this book. As a working woman myself with the hope to be a mother in the somewhat near future, I hoped that this book would offer more perspective for women who work and mother. It was mentioned a handful of times, but I think the subject deserved at least a full chapter.

Favorite Quotes:

“Through our daily work, in whatever form it takes, we have been entrusted with a corner of creation that awaits God’s loving influence. When viewed this way, our work becomes more than just a way to support ourselves financially. It becomes a response to God’s love and sacrifice, offered in service to others.”

“Living your call does not depend on God declaring a single, glorious vision for your life. Rather, it’s a lifelong journey that combines spiritual discernment, courage, and creativity as God helps you become the woman he designed you to be.”

Thank you to Intervarsity Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Jen Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the quick read and impact with the practical questions at the end of each chapter to focus on. The book approach was a coaching guide to reflect and dive deeper into the topics with God, rather than an instruction manual on how to solve each of these topics within the book itself. I appreciated this flexible approach to explore how these questions apply to my life and current circumstances.

[Becky Filipek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, biblical, practical little book. It offers questions for consideration at the end of each brief chapter.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: Joanna is a friend of mine, so I'm prejudiced in favor of her writing, not just because of our friendship but because of the thoughtful, godly approach that she brings to questions about faith and work and women's place in both. Review based on an eARC received through NetGalley.

I appreciated seeing so many role models of Christians impacting the world, especially those in jobs that are sometimes labelled secular (not a label Meyer uses.). I also liked the sections that pulled together biblical insights with the realities of daily life in the workplace. And the reflection questions at the end of each chapter did spur me to deeper thinking. I would love to discuss them with a group of like-minded women.

Each section of the book could easily be a book on its own. In fact, this is my main criticism of the book. Complex subjects had to be skimmed over quickly. While many Christian women shared insights on various topics, there wasn't space for them to dig more deeply into the theological implications of their experiences and statements they made.

This book is a good launching point for women newly thinking through issues related to their calling and their work lives.

[Maddie Hamilton · Rating 2 out of 5]

A more accurate number is probably 2.5. This book had some good reminders and an encouraging tone, but was underwhelming.

Pros: quick, short read. She had a theology of work and Sabbath (love that). I like that she included reflection questions at the end of each chapter. She had a good chapter on humility where she discusses what humility is and what it isn’t and a solid chapter on perfectionism. She places a high value on community & mentors in discerning calling and vocation.

Cons: I felt mildly encouraged, but overall pretty meh. I don’t believe every book needs to have brand new information, but I do hope to leave thinking deeper about the themes of the book (especially one with a title like this) and I didn’t feel that way with this one.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short, highly readable book shares encouragement for women who are working professional jobs and want to better understand the role between their vocational work and their relationship with God. As the author reflects at the beginning of this book, even though women have vastly more work opportunities now than in previous generations, the church's vision for women's vocational work has often remained very limited or been an afterthought in discipleship. Joanna Meyer shares theological insight into the nature of work, and although the core insights apply to all people, she unpacks some of the specific implications for women.

Strong Points

Women, Work, and Calling features short readings on a variety of different topics, such as discerning between biblical norms and cultural norms, exploring your calling, dealing with self-limiting beliefs, finding rest in God, and learning how to lead and relate to others well in the workplace. Every reading begins with a Bible verse, and at the end, the author shares a few reflection questions. The last one usually invites an action step, but Meyer leaves that up to the reader and doesn't presume what it should be. This book will encourage women with different jobs and goals to take their work seriously and view their professional growth through a spiritual lens, and Meyer also shares great practical advice on topics like finding a good mentor.

As Meyer writes about general concepts related to work, she draws out specific applications and implications for women. She addresses women in different life situations, and even though some working mothers may wish that more of the book addressed their unique demands with balancing work and parenting, the book broadly acknowledges women who are in many different situations and stages of life. Also, Meyer brings up issues that women may experience related to bias in the workplace, and I really liked the chapter about working with men and dealing with sexism. I also appreciated her additional point that women should also consider what negative biases they hold about men. It was SO GOOD to hear someone other than me say that!

Limitations

My one significant critique is that even though Meyer's advice applies to many different job fields and positions within a company, she focuses on white collar contexts and office jobs. Even though many of the general ideas still apply, this book doesn't address dynamics for jobs that involve lots of public-facing interactions, care-giving work, or physical labor. At the very least, this book should have given more advice and examples related to customer service roles, but I wish that the author had included more diverse examples and addressed women who are working low-wage jobs to make ends meet.

Even though it makes sense for Meyer to focus on the kind of work she's familiar with doing herself and mentoring other people in, I wish that she had represented a wider diversity of job types and included encouragements for women who are working uninspiring jobs out of necessity. Women who work at the grocery store need discipleship for their vocational lives too, not just women who are fulfilling their goals in a high-powered office job. Every author has to pick their audience, and it's fine for Meyer to focus on women who are building professional careers, but I wish that she had broadened her scope at times. Women can make a difference in the world and show leadership skills in even very humble and unimpressive jobs, and this book would be even stronger if it acknowledged that.

Conclusion

Women, Work, and Calling: Step into Your Place in God's World is a great book for women who are looking for advice and encouragement for their professional lives. Joanna Meyer shares thoughtful perspectives on the theology of work, shares practical tips for how to think about and respond to different issues in the workplace, and draws out applications and ideas that are specifically geared towards women's lives and experiences. Although this book is limited in scope and is best for women working in office jobs and white-collar environments, it shares wisdom and encouragement that many women will find helpful. This is great for women at many different stages of their careers, and could also make a great graduation gift for a young woman who is about to enter the workforce.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Bill Pence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This helpful book was written by Joanna Meyer, Director of Public Engagement at the Denver Institute for Faith & Work, host of the Faith and Work Podcast, and founder of Women, Work, and Calling, a national initiative that equips Christian women for godly influence in public life. The author’s goal with the book is to establish, inspire, and equip women to fully live their calling in response to God’s love and in service to others. While primarily written for women, it would be a good book for men to read as well, to learn more about women and their work.
The book is organized as follows:
Part One: The author establishes a biblical framework for thinking about your various roles. She cuts through the cultural baggage surrounding women’s roles to help you understand your calling and what it means for your daily work.
Part Two: This section turns inward to help you build the spiritual and emotional strength you need to thrive in your roles.
Part Three: This section gets practical by addressing common challenges women face in their work and leadership.
Part Four: The book concludes with a look at the relationships you need to grow a thriving network.
Each of the relatively short twenty chapters ends with a “Reflect” section, which helps the reader go deeper and apply what was covered in that chapter.
The author brings in teaching from those she has interviewed on the Faith and Work Podcast, as well as those who have spoken at Women, Work and Calling events. Among the subjects covered in this book are a vision for women’s work, calling, limiting beliefs, biblical humility, soul care, your brand, self-doubt, imposter syndrome, authenticity, vocational power, perfectionism, leading up, mentoring, gender dynamics in the workplace and leaning hard.
This would be a good book to read individually, or as a group, using the “Reflect” section at the end of each chapter.
Below are 15 of my favorite quotes from the book:
• As our roles in public life have grown, the church’s vision for women’s work and calling has not grown with us.
• Through our daily work, in whatever form it takes, we have been entrusted with a corner of creation that awaits God’s loving influence.
• We need a vision for women’s work that is broad enough for the unique situations we face.
• Well-meaning Christians may miss the complete vision God has for women and their work. This often happens when we divide work into private (home-based) and public (marketplace or civic) spheres.
• One of the beauties of calling is that it offers a through line, an invisible thread that binds your story together across the seasons and stages of your life.
• Living your call does not depend on God declaring a single, glorious vision for your life. Rather, it’s a lifelong journey that combines spiritual discernment, courage, and creativity as God helps you become the woman he designed you to be.
• One of the best kept secrets of spiritual growth is the critical role your daily work plays in your development.
• Soul care is about connecting with God’s presence as he is with you and for you as you go about your work.
• One way to cultivate a healthy soul is to converse with God throughout your day. You can rest in him moment by moment, crisis by crisis, decision by decision, and be reassured of his love, care, sovereignty, and goodness.
• In the world in which you live and work, you have a brand whether you actively cultivate it or not. Your brand is your reputation. It’s the impression you leave in writing, in personal interactions, and on social media.
• Humble confidence comes from knowing what is true of you: you are made in the image of God, and he has given you specific strengths for the roles he intends you to fill.
• Your daily work is one of the most profound ways you can serve using God’s power for his glory and others’ good.
• When good is never good enough, you will overwork to the point of exhaustion even though, on this side of heaven, perfection is not achievable.
• Rather than looking for a single person to develop you, envision gathering a constellation of individuals who support you for various purposes and seasons of your life.
• When Christian women encounter barriers to growing their influence and resources, their gifts will be less broadly distributed in the world.

[Essence · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this book when I wasn’t as disenchanted with corporate as I am now, and finally finishing it, I rate it 2.5 stars.

- This book ages like milk. This was published in 2023, and now in 2026, when the book’s calls to be more open to networking with men , it all falls flat when many women have been laid off due to the anti-DEI crusades happening at work.
- This book acknowledges some seasons are hard, but don’t talk about the systemic barriers that affect women with young children. Hard to network if you can’t afford childcare to get back to work.
- Men get off entirely too easy in this book. On the literal same page of briefly mentioning #MeToo is the call for women to put down a negative attitude towards men. It felt dismissive of a lot of real experiences.

- It was disappointing how this book doesn’t address the real issue of how many people in business don’t *want* to be more inclusive and aren’t interested in true change that benefits everyone.

Ultimately, this book has a Christian lens, but a lot of strategies rely on men being nice enough to help you. This isn’t for women who’ve been hurt by corporate, or women who are disenchanted with corporate work and don’t want to deal with the song and dance of branding, mission statements, and networking.

Like many Christian nonfiction books, it’s never about changing what’s around you systemically, but dealing with things as they are with *maybe* help from kind strangers. It felt like a narrow definition of work. This book was very short, to be fair. The author probably thought the undertones were out of scope for the book.

[Nana A · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Such a good and easy read.

- I enjoyed reading this book because it was relatable. It should be beneficial for Christian women looking to develop themselves and exert their influence in their vocations. .

- Topics which working women should find relevant were delved into e.g. networking, mentoring, perfectionism, limiting beliefs, Imposter Syndrome, personal branding, rest and so on. Also, it seeks to provide solutions to some of the challenges faced in the workplace from a Biblical/Christian perspective

- Great addition of reflection questions at the end of each chapter.

- Some new ideas/perspectives on work were shared. However, some bold/controversial statements were made which seemed to be generalisations e.g. "and often, the place they [Christian women pursuing professional careers] feel most lonely is in their faith communities" and "as our roles in public life have grown, the church's vision for women's work and calling has not grown with us".

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes an interesting look at the theology of work, specifically for women. The first half didn't really catch my attention - it felt a bit fluffy rather than thought-provoking. The second half had a lot more practical advice, things to think about and more original (compared to other things I have read) ideas.

This book pulls a lot on other authors, research and ideas. At times this threw me as it felt more like a compilation of work rather than the authors own ideas. But it was still valuable to have these ideas pulled together, and there were sections with more content directly from the author. I found the section on humility particularly interesting. Definitely a good plan to start if you are new to exploring this topic - and a very easy to read book.

Thanks to NetGalley and InterVarsity Press for the advanced copy.

[Crudelise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite an easy read. Which is suprising for this style of book.

As with most educational books it was far to chaotic for me (but I guess thats a me thing I just would love bulletpoints and overviews)

The first 50% felt kinda generic. I couldnt really take anything away from that...
50-70% I loved. I learned and marked a lot. Especially about mentoring & Perfectionism
The last Part about Networking went a bit over my head... maybe I'll come back to that...

Generally I really liked it. I loved how all the (lots of!) quotes from the bible were pulled in, how the different examples were made and the Reflect parts at the end of the chapters brought everything together.

[Irina Apăscăriței · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It offers an overview of the theological basis for the involvement of women in work outside the home and then practical aspects, such as the challenges women face in the workplace and advice on how to improve workplace relationships, networking and finding a mentor.
It is a very easy read, contains a lot of practical wisdom regarding women in the workforce.
I recommend it to women in this particular position, though I would say it doesn't go to deep into the issues it adresses.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for sending this book for review consideration.

[Jessie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

The broad scope of this book makes it immensely valuable as a resource for beginning leaders and experienced leaders alike. The reflection questions are one of my favorite parts. They are great for journaling; like a guide, helping you discover more about yourself and your leadership.

This would make a great mentoring or coaching tool. I can see it being used with a group. Chapters are short which would make it easy for even the busiest woman!

It is also great for men who want to learn how to better interact with and lead with women.

I received a copy from NetGalley. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

[Jaimie Mattoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the overall premise of Women, Work, and Calling, it touches on some really important and relevant topics for women navigating faith, vocation, and identity. However, given the short length of the book, many of the themes felt only briefly introduced rather than a deeper dive.

That being said, I read this with a group of women from my church, and the discussions it sparked were incredibly rich and meaningful. In many ways, those conversations were more impactful than the book itself. I’d definitely recommend reading this with someone or in a small group setting, this book really benefits from thoughtful discussion and shared reflection.

[Peggy Bodde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joanna covers all the big hitters from imposter syndrome to the importance of healthy male-female relationships at work, and she ties everything into Scripture and the example of Christ. I read it cover-to-cover, and then went back and journaled responses to the reflection questions. Each chapter covers a topic relevant to Christian working women and can provide on-the-spot coaching + biblical teaching when specific work challenges hit. Don't underestimate this little book! Would make a great gift for the working women in your life.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very quick read, only a little over 100 pages. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and this is the first book I have seen or read that is geared toward Christian women in the workplace. Overall, the book encouraged readers to steward one's role within the workplace well and provided practical advice on how to godly seek growth within one's career. While a lot of these concepts were not new, I was encouraged by this book and honestly, wish it could have had an additional 100 pages or so to expand on some of these topics.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely little gem of a book! This book provides an introduction to calling for Christian women in the workplace. Meyer has an accessible way of writing that works for newcomers to this vocabulary and way of thinking as well as for those who are looking for additional resources. Most importantly, if a few short pages, she builds a strong case that God wants and needs women to share their talents in the workplace and that we are called to be where we are.

[Emily P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful book. Is our work our calling, or is our calling our work? Unique perspectives from those who are in the workforce and those who have left the workforce. Really interesting read. I would recommend this for anyone who would like to expand their knowledge of what work means in light of our callings as women.

I was an early reader, thanks to #Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Emily P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful book. Is our work our calling, or is our calling our work? Unique perspectives from those who are in the workforce and those who have left the workforce. Really interesting read. I would recommend this for anyone who would like to expand their knowledge of what work means in light of our callings as women.

I was an early reader, thanks to #Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband picked this up for me at a church conference. Even though I don't currently work outside the home, I found it informative. I liked the short chapters and simply read the book, but there are reflection questions at the end of each chapter. These could be used for personal reflection or even small group discussion. I think this will be a good addition to my library as my kids grow and I discern what is next for me.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as part of a learning cohort with women in Christian leadership across the country. I found it very encouraging as we think about gender roles and especially how the church has historically shaped the narrative around women in leadership. The author does a good job of balancing the realities of life with the choices of following His calling. I highly recommend for any woman in leadership but especially those serving in ministry settings.

[Stacey Cochran · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read. There was a lot of good and practical advice, especially in the second half. However, it felt very disjointed and in my opinion, there was a lot of information/quotes from others rather than the author's content. Overall, it was a good read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Stacey Cochran · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read. There was a lot of good and practical advice, especially in the second half. However, it felt very disjointed and in my opinion, there was a lot of information/quotes from others rather than the author's content. Overall, it was a good read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[hendersweet]

I expected to roll my eyes. The three words in the title put together can have vastly different conclusions in Christian circles. The book is slim and is very clearly a short summary of the organization’s annual conference of the same title. I pulled out some good nuggets to consider further and I had no eye rolling.

[Jillian B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Meyer is like an encouraging best friend, urging her female Christian readers to embrace their vocational callings. The chapters were short with insightful discussion questions.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for what it was meant to be: a quick hit of simple things we can do today to move closer to God’s purpose in our lives. If you work, it’s worth the quick read. For both women and men.