Stephanie Rice says she's 'struggling' and receiving messages from God as she's knocked back for 130 jobs after the Lord 'asked her' to resign: 'He speaks to me in childlike pictures'

Stephanie Rice has opted to build her own business after being rejected from 130 jobs - but she is already struggling. 

In an Instagram post this week, the Olympic swimmer, who walked away from what she described as her dream job - becoming CEO of a company - because she believes God 'asked her to resign', said that she was again turning to God for help. 

Just 12 days into her new project, Rice said she was 'exhausted' and 'truly struggling'. 

'It feels like my brain has so much going on in it because there are so many ideas and designs and elements to include in this business, in this prayer board pack, and I want to do the mail club,' she said.

'I feel like my brain is just not managing with the amount of different elements...my brain feels like when you start a jigsaw puzzle and you tip out all the pieces and you're just looking at an entire table full of puzzle pieces.

'I feel like it's making me so exhausted, my brain.'

Rice said that God had been offering her a hand by sending her inspirational messages. 

'I love how God speaks to me in childlike pictures, they always make so much sense and align beautifully to how I'm feeling. I love how He is so personal,' Rice wrote in her caption on Instagram. 

'Asking the Lord to help me start sorting all these wonderful ideas into a structure, a process and some sort of clarity,' she continued. 

She also asked her followers for 'any support or advice' they have.  

Rice has undergone a personal rebrand in recent months, changing her name and creating a new Instagram account after quitting her job and 'starting again' at 38.

The three-time Olympic gold medallist has adopted her husband Mark Lassey's surname as she embarks on a fresh chapter in Dubai, where she is now promoting her services as a business consultant.

Rice recently put her search for a full-time job on hold after submitting more than 130 applications over eight months, revealing she believes her latest rejection was a sign from God.

The former swimmer said she will now focus on launching a business that is inspired by her faith.

Stephanie recently resigned from a director-level role while discussing an opportunity to become CEO because she felt God was telling her to leave.

Despite expecting another exciting position to follow quickly, the former swimming champion said she had reached the final stage of roughly five recruitment processes, without securing a job.

The former Olympian has increasingly shared her Christian faith online since relocating to Dubai in 2023.

Last month, she revealed she was starting a new Instagram account using her married surname, Lassey, and rebuilding her career with Jesus at the centre of her life.

Stephanie married pastor Mark Lassey at a vineyard in Perth in January 2025, following their engagement the previous September.

She rose to international fame at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning three gold medals for Australia.