”Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart. And do not rely on
your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and
recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing
obstacles that block your way.]” – Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP)
They told us the ladder was ours to climb—until they moved the rungs.
You didn’t ask for this shift. It was chosen for you.
Maybe you were laid off in a wave of restructuring. Maybe your role disappeared when Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI for short) became a buzzword that they quietly retired. You gave your voice, your brilliance, your energy to a system that promised progress—but when it no longer served their agenda, the progress stopped.
But here’s what they didn’t expect: You weren’t just climbing. You were becoming. And who you’re becoming doesn’t disappear when the job does.
When the Shift Isn’t Your Choice
The professional landscape is evolving fast—and for many women, especially women of color, these shifts feel less like progress and more like loss. The dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts and initiatives and mass layoffs aren’t just professional challenges. They can shake your sense of safety, identity, and calling.
This kind of change can feel like grief. Not just the loss of a paycheck—but of
purpose, rhythm, and self-worth. If you’ve found yourself asking, “Who am I
now?”—you’re not alone.
The Identity Crisis After Job Loss
When our careers are suddenly stripped away, it’s not just a title we lose—it’s the structure we’ve built life around. We start to wonder:
“Am I still valuable without the position?”
“Do I still have a voice if I don’t have a seat at the table?”
“Who am I now that I’m no longer needed in the same way?”
These aren’t surface-level questions. They’re spiritual ones.
When the Shift Isn’t Your Choice
Although I primarily coach professional women, every so often, I work with a client whose story speaks to universal truths.
One such client—a seasoned male professional—was navigating a career transition after stepping away from a high-level role. Our work together began with a conversation about identity,
faith, and calling. He described that moment as a pivot point, where the fog began to lift, and clarity took root.
Together, we realigned his professional branding with his evolving sense of purpose. But more than that, he reclaimed a deep truth: that we all struggle sometimes—and we all need space to rediscover who we are beyond the role.
In his words:
“This conversation was a pivot point in understanding life’s journey… I would not be in this blessed position without Cheryl’s professional and personal support. She is the most skilled, caring, and absolute best coach I’ve ever worked with.”
His transformation reminds us: the journey to rebuild our identity after career loss is not just a woman’s experience—it’s a human one. But for the professional woman reading this: your story deserves that same clarity and care.
It’s in these moments of crisis that we must anchor ourselves to something deeper—our faith.
3 Divine Truths to Rebuild Your Identity
1. You Are Still Someone Without the Title
It’s easy to tie your worth to a paycheck or role. But job loss doesn’t mean life loss. You were created with purpose—and this transition is not the end. It’s a divine redirection.
The lie: “My value came from my position.”
The truth: Before you ever earned a degree, God called you His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10).
2. This Loss Reveals What Still Remains
Setbacks can be setups. Just ask Joseph in Genesis—sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned… and yet, divinely positioned for leadership.
If you’ve been laid off, ask:
“Is God calling me into something new?”
“Am I being moved into the thing I wouldn’t have chosen—but was born for?”
The lie: “I’ve lost everything I built.”
The truth: Titles expire. Your discernment, vision, and voice are eternal.
3. Even This Pain Has a Holy Purpose
You are allowed to feel the loss. But don’t retreat into isolation. Your pain may become the very testimony someone else needs to hear. Let your hurt make room for healing—and let your healing be the seed of someone else’s hope. (2 Corinthians 1:6 -7 (TLB).
The lie: “God abandoned me in this loss.”
The truth: The cross looked like defeat—until it became redemption.
How to Begin Again: 3 Steps to Navigate Identity Shifts
1. Grieve the Loss Without Losing Yourself
• Feel the frustration, sadness, even betrayal. But don’t let them define your next steps.
• Take time to process—but don’t stay stuck there. You are still becoming.
• Consider talking with a coach, therapist, or spiritual mentor to help you move forward in truth.
2. Discover Who You Are Beneath the Accolades
• Make a list of what you’ve gained—not just in skills, but in strength, wisdom,
and resilience.
• You are more than a résumé. You reflect God’s intention.
3. Rebuild on the Foundation That Cannot Be Shaken
• Polish your résumé if you need to. Take that course. Explore entrepreneurship.
• But don’t rebuild from fear—rebuild from faith. God is not finished. He’s just begun a new draft.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone,
the new is here!" — 2 Corinthians 5:17
Client Story: Reclaiming Her Voice After Career Change
Another client—a former HR leader preparing to launch a nonprofit—came to me full of ideas but weighed down by fear and uncertainty. She was preparing to step away from corporate life and was trying to reconnect with her voice, her vision, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance in a brand-new space.
Together, we uncovered her confidence and realigned her thoughts with her calling. Her reflection captures what so many women feel during identity shifts: “Your guidance and spiritual insights helped me hear the Holy Spirit in me. You helped me reframe my thoughts into actionable steps, all while honoring my story.”
For her, identity wasn’t lost—it was just buried under obligation, burnout, and noise. Through coaching, she uncovered the woman God was calling her to become—calm, consistent, and clear.
Your Next Step: Rise Stronger with Support
You don’t have to navigate this alone. Let’s have a Free Exploratory Conversation—a space for you to be heard, seen, and supported. No pressure. Just clarity and truth.
In our conversation, we’ll talk about:
• Where you are now—and what’s stirring in your spirit
• What new season God might be calling you into
• How I can support your journey
Click here to book your Free Exploratory Conversation.
Bonus Resource:
When you schedule your session, you’ll receive my new worksheet: “Rebuilding Your Identity After Job Loss”
This guided tool is a powerful companion to this blog that will walk you through faith-filled prompts to reflect, reframe, and rise—rooted in your God-given identity.
This may not be the chapter you expected.
But it just might be the one that sets you free.
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