Ep. 56 with Elaine Lankford | Founder, She Steps Forward

The Divine Redirection: How Crisis Led to a Global Mission

What happens when the career you've spent 16 years building suddenly crumbles beneath your feet? For Elaine, this devastating reality became the unexpected doorway to her true calling.

From oncology nurse to pain management specialist, Elaine had built a respected medical career while balancing motherhood to her son Nicholas and her younger cousin Julie, whom she'd taken in to provide stability. Then came 2008 – the year everything fell apart. Her medical practice was abruptly shut down, her father passed away, and her husband was diagnosed with cancer – all within months.

"I can remember sitting in my bedroom in the dark, silent, with the tears rolling, not able to move and just thinking 'where are you, God?'" Elaine recalls of her darkest moment. Yet it was precisely this crisis that forced her to rediscover who she truly was beyond her professional identity.

Through volunteer work, mission trips to Nicaragua, and eventually publishing her first book about her journey, Elaine found a new direction – empowering women entrepreneurs who felt called to start businesses, ministries, and nonprofits. Today, her organization She Steps Forward operates on two continents, providing coaching, seed funding, and community for women stepping into their purpose.

What makes Elaine's story so powerful is how motherhood influenced her resilience. "I can't let my kids watch me fail. I can't let my kids not know that God is real," she explains, revealing how her determination to model faith and perseverance for her children became a driving force in her darkest moments.

Whether you're facing a career setback, considering entrepreneurship, or simply need inspiration to push through difficult seasons, Elaine's journey demonstrates how our greatest challenges can become the foundation for unexpected purpose. Listen now to discover how sometimes losing your way becomes the first step to finding your calling.

Connect with Elaine:

• Websites: shestepsforwardcoaching.com
  shestepsforwardinternational.org
• IG Accounts: @shestepsforward_coaching & @shestepsforwardinternational
• Email: [email protected] 

Contact the Host, Kelly Kirk:

• Email: [email protected]

Get Connected/Follow:

• IG: @ryh_pod & @thekelly.tanke.kirk
• Facebook: Reclaiming Your Hue Facebook Page
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RYHReclaimingYourHue

Credits:

• Editor: Joseph Kirk
• Music: Kristofer Tanke

Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue!