Have you ever reached that quiet point where you realize the life you built no longer fits?
The career that once lit you up now leaves you drained. The dream you worked so hard for… doesn’t feel like yours anymore.
That moment — the whisper that says “something has to change” — is the one so many of us ignore until our body, our faith, or our circumstances force us to listen.
This week on The Reset with Kerry Podcast, I sat down with Pastor Michelle Wahila, author of Ruffled by Grace, to talk about what happens when your calling starts to crush you — and how to rebuild when walking away feels like failure.
The Pause: When Your Calling Becomes Too Heavy
Michelle had done everything “right.” She followed her calling, built a respected career in ministry, and moved her family from the U.S. to Paris to serve a new congregation.
But behind the polished exterior, she was unraveling. Anxiety crept in. Sleep disappeared. Her body began to revolt.
“My soul was so crushed that this thing I thought would be good for me… wasn’t.” — Michelle Wahila
Leaving meant more than quitting a job — it meant releasing an identity she had carried her entire adult life. Yet sometimes, that’s what growth demands: the courage to pause, even when it looks like quitting.
The Reflect: What Stillness Can Reveal
After resigning, Michelle expected peace. Instead, she broke her foot and found herself literally unable to move — forced to rest, grieve, and reflect.
“I sat on the couch for weeks watching Netflix, mad at myself for not being productive. But maybe that’s exactly what I needed.”
That season of stillness became the foundation for healing. The noise of expectation faded, and she began to hear her own voice again.
This is what reflection really looks like — not perfection or hustle, but listening to what your body and soul have been trying to tell you.
The Rebuild: Saying Yes to What Feels Light
One small yes changed everything. A friend asked if she could officiate a wedding in Paris. Michelle almost said no — that chapter felt closed. But something inside her whispered, try it.
That one yes turned into another, and within a year she was performing weddings across Paris — not as a pastor bound by institution, but as a woman rediscovering her purpose.
“I didn’t decide to build a business. I just kept saying yes to the things that brought me joy again.” — Michelle Wahila
Today, Michelle runs Ruffled by Grace, officiating hundreds of weddings, leading retreats for women, and writing about faith, freedom, and starting over.
Her story is proof that rebuilding isn’t about rushing into the next thing — it’s about following what feels light and alive.
The Firefly Lesson: When What You’re Chasing Looks Different Up Close
One night on her family’s farm outside Paris, Michelle’s kids ran through the grass chasing what they thought were fireflies — only to discover they were glowworms.
“Maybe what you’re looking for will appear differently than you expect. You haven’t caught it yet, but when the time is right, it will glow in your hands.”
Sometimes the dream still comes true — it just looks nothing like the version you imagined.
Final Thoughts: Ruffled, Not Ruined
What I love most about Michelle’s story is its honesty. She didn’t “pivot perfectly.” She didn’t bounce back overnight. She unraveled — and then rebuilt from a softer, truer place.
“You don’t have to rebuild your whole life overnight. You just have to stop living the one that’s draining you.”
So if something in your life feels too heavy to keep holding, maybe this is your moment. Not to burn it all down — but to lay it down long enough to see what’s waiting to rise in its place.
About the Guest
Michelle Wahila is the author of Ruffled by Grace: Rebellious Blessings for a Fierce Faith and the founder of Ruffled by Grace Ceremonies, a Paris-based business dedicated to love, healing, and meaningful moments.
She’s officiated hundreds of weddings in France and leads intimate retreats for women seeking faith, creativity, and clarity.
Purchase Ruffled by Grace at ruffledbygrace.com
Follow on Instagram @ruffledbygrace
Listen to the Full Conversation with Michelle
Click here to tune into the Reset with Kerry podcast episode
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