I always like to know a little something about an author before I sit down and open up his or her book. Today, I interview Michelle Meyers and Somer Phoebus of She Works HIS Way about their new book, She Works His Way: A Practical Guide for Doing What Matters Most in a Get Things Done World. I just read this book a few months ago and I loved their Bible saturated wisdom, as well as their warm and encouraging writing. You’ll feel like Michelle and Somer are new friends after reading this book.
Written for working moms who feel the strain of juggling work, family, and spiritual life, this book offers biblical wisdom for identifying lies from our culture and embracing a gospel-centered approach to work and womanhood instead. If you’re weary of endless expectations and exhausted from trying to do it all, I encourage you to read this book!
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hi! We’re Michelle (from Asheville, NC) and Somer (from Annapolis, MD), and we’re moms, pastor’s wives, women called to work, best friends and co-leaders of She Works HIS Way, a discipleship community for working women. We have two phrases that guide our ministry: “strengthening the churches” from Acts 15:41, recounting Paul’s missionary journey. Also, “stir up one another to love and good works” from Hebrews 10:24. So that’s why our ministry exists: to stir one another up and to strengthen the churches. Our favorite things that we agree on: local church ministry, laughter, tacos, dark chocolate, and lake days.
When did you first start writing? What do you enjoy about it?
Michelle: I’ve always loved to read, and my teacher was the first one to tell me, “I bet you will write books someday.” I went home that day and started writing, and honestly, I never stopped. Sometimes, I think my brain has a stronger connection to my hand than it does to my mouth. If I really want to learn about something or even process how I’m feeling or my own thoughts, the quickest route to understanding is for me to start writing things down. There’s just an undeniable honesty in writing that is so helpful and valuable, and I love being able to share that with others, especially when I’m writing about what God is teaching me.
Somer: It was only around a decade ago was when I started writing more than business proposals and emails. I love the process of taking what may feel complicated and messy in my (or anyone else’s) head and using written words to clarify or simplify it. And it’s a really beautiful thing when the subject matter is faith and God’s Word. It’s been the greatest and most unexpected gift of my career to write a book with my best friend.
Is writing ever difficult for you? How so?
Michelle: From a practical side, writing is most difficult for me when I try to write and edit at the same time. Writing and editing use two different sides of the brain, so if I ever start to edit myself while I’m writing, it ruins the creative flow, and it takes me a while to get back in a rhythm. So to avoid this, I just try to write for as long as I can, then get up from my desk and do something else for a few minutes, and then, I come back to edit. But on a personal note, I typically write about the lessons that were hardest for me to learn, so writing honestly requires both humility and vulnerability. And as difficult as some things may be to admit and put out there, God is always so faithful to use it in someone else’s life. No matter how hard it is, it’s worth it.
Somer: Only when I forget who it is I am writing to. If I can keep the “who” at the forefront of my mind, I rarely get frustrated. As soon as it becomes about the end product though, I find myself distracted and struggling.
What led you to write She Works His Way: A Practical Guide for Doing What Matters Most in a Get Things Done World?
Doing what matters glorifies God. The world glorifies getting things done.
Doing what matters glorifies God. The world glorifies getting things done. And that’s the tension working women face every day. As believers, we all know that culture lies, and the blatant lies are really easy to identify. But culture has another sub-group of lies, ones that are more like half-truths. They sound good and they feel good, they’re well-dressed and socially acceptable. But they’re truths that are twisted just enough to make it more about us than it makes it about God. So those are the topics we wanted to address—the same issues that we had to address in our own lives—to help women navigate, not just between what’s bad and what’s good, but what’s merely good and what’s actually of God.
What’s the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?
The world wants us—especially women—to believe that better life balance is the solution to all of our problems. And when balance becomes the pursuit, women often find themselves simultaneously striving to be who God says they are and who the world says they should be. And that’s not balance—that’s bondage. So if you want to experience true freedom that’s only available to us in Christ, better life balance is not the solution. Order is. We were divinely designed to put God first. And when God has His proper place in your life, he’ll order everything else too.
How has writing this book affected your own life?
The conversations we are having with woman as they read just emphasizes how much this conversation is needed. And it’s really not about any of our words but the power in simply being reminded of what God has already said. This world is loud, and since we are called to show up and love, we can’t just go into hiding as an attempt to escape the noise. But we can elevate his voice over every other voice and encourage others to do the same.
“It’s really not about any of our words but the power in simply being reminded of what God has already said.”
For a sneak peek, here are some quotes:
“Striving says, ‘I’ve got this.’ Surrender says, ‘God’s got me.’” – Michelle Myers
“You will never be able to design anything better than what He has for you. Lay it all down and let Him lead.” – Somer Phoebus
“Leadership is a good thing. We need those who are willing to lead. But we need leaders who love God, not merely leaders who love leadership.” – Michelle Myers
“We may be missing out on some huge gospel opportunities simply because we’re talking over them.” – Somer Phoebus
Here’s what others are saying:
“God has called every woman to do important work in this world. I love the countercultural, gospel-centered message of She Works His Way, and I know you will too. This is the book for every working woman!”
– Alli Worthington, bestselling author, business coach and entrepreneur
“In work, it’s so easy to drift to the world’s way of doing things. The lies are subtle and the expectations are strong. That’s why it has been transformative to learn about the She Works His Way approach from Michelle and Somer over the last six years. What a gift to now have that message distilled into this powerful book for all women to read!”
– Val Woerner, prayer journal creator and owner of Val Marie Paper and author of Pray Confidently and Consistently
When will She Works His Way: A Practical Guide for Doing What Matters Most be coming out?
The book is out now and available most places books are sold! And if you’d like to dig even deeper, we also wrote a companion study guide (works with a group or individually!). You can get a copy of the study guide here.
If you had an afternoon to do whatever you’d like, where would we find you?
Michelle: My absolute favorite place to be is on a paddleboard, so if that’s an option, a low key lake day with family and friends would be my top choice!
Somer: In a boat on the Chesapeake Bay with my family, a great 90’s playlist, and all the Trader Joe’s snacks we could carry.