What happens when the life you worked so hard for suddenly stops working?
For Michelle, leaving her dream job in France wasn’t part of the plan—but it became the turning point that led to something far more fulfilling. This is a story of letting go, healing, and discovering that sometimes the plan falling apart is exactly what sets you free.
“I always say I was cracked open just enough to let the light in.”
If you’ve ever looked around and thought, “Why doesn’t this feel right—when it should?” this story is for you.
From Calling to Crisis: The Reality of Leaving Your Dream Job
Michelle did what many dream of: she moved to Paris with her young children and husband to pursue what she thought was her dream job—serving as a pastor in a new country.
But very quickly, cracks began to form. She wasn’t sleeping. Her health was suffering. Her identity, once deeply rooted in her calling, began to blur.
“I don’t even recognize myself anymore.”
It didn’t happen overnight. But eventually, Michelle made the impossible decision: leave the dream job she had uprooted her life for.
Why Leaving Your Dream Job Feels Like Losing Yourself
Let’s be honest: leaving your dream job isn’t just about a career move. It’s about shedding the identity you’ve built around that title, the version of yourself everyone else admires.
For Michelle, it felt like failure. She had moved her family across the world for this role. To walk away was more than quitting a job—it was dismantling the story she had told herself.
“To say I was a failure… that’s how it felt.”
A Slow Goodbye and the Pause That Changed Everything
Because of her contract, Michelle had to give a full year’s notice. That year became a season of release. She stayed present. She gathered what was good. And she quietly grieved what was not.
Then, just when she thought she was ready for the next thing, she broke her foot.
“It was dumb… and exactly what I needed.”
That unplanned stillness—coffee, Netflix, and rest—became the foundation for healing. It gave her space to imagine something new.
A Career Pivot That Started with One Unexpected Yes
A friend asked her to officiate a wedding in Paris. Michelle said no.
Then she changed her mind.
That one yes led to four more weddings. Then ten. Then over a hundred.
“It didn’t look like any job I’d imagined—but it brought me joy.”
Leaving her dream job didn’t end her purpose. It redirected it. Her ministry didn’t stop. It simply shifted outside the four walls of the church.
What Happens After Leaving Your Dream Job?
Today, Michelle splits her time between officiating weddings in Paris and living on a peaceful farmhouse in the French countryside.
She traded stress for stillness. Deadlines for dinner around the table. Public pressure for private peace.
“What I feel now is gratitude—for what I almost lost, and what I get to keep.”
Leaving your dream job didn’t ruin Michelle’s life.
It gave her a new one.
Why This Story Resonates with So Many Women
If you’re in that soul-tired place where your dream no longer fits, Michelle’s story is your reminder:
1. You don’t need to have it all figured out
Sometimes the clarity only comes after the decision.
2. Let someone else believe for you
If you’re not ready to hope, let your people hold it for you until you are.
3. One small yes can change everything
Big pivots often start with something small—a favor, a coffee, a curious maybe.
📖 Book Pairing: When the Heart Waits by Sue Monk Kidd
This beautiful memoir explores the sacred space between letting go and becoming. It’s about waiting well, trusting slow growth, and honoring the soul in transition. A perfect companion if you’re navigating your own version of leaving your dream job.
🎧 Listen to the Full Conversation with Michelle
👉 Click here to tune into the Reset with Kerry podcast episode
💬 Connect with Michelle
📍 ruffledbygrace.com
📸 @ruffledbygrace on Instagram
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