Shifting Culture
Shifting Culture invites you into transformative conversations at the intersection of faith, culture, justice, and the way of Jesus. Each episode, host Joshua Johnson engages guests who challenge conventional thinking and inspire fresh perspectives for embodying faith in today's complex world. If you're curious about how cultural shifts impact your faith journey and passionate about living purposefully, join us as we explore deeper ways to follow Jesus in everyday life.
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Shifting Culture
Ep. 344 Edwina Findley Dickerson - The World is Waiting For You: Dream Big, Hear from God, and Live Your Purpose
In this episode, I sit down with actor, author, and speaker Edwina Findley Dickerson to talk about her new book, The World Is Waiting for You. Edwina shares her journey of listening for God’s voice, navigating seasons of waiting, and discovering a deeper purpose beyond achievement. Together, we explore the tension between intentional planning and radical surrender, how to overcome fear and step into our God-given dreams, and why true purpose is found not only in what we do, but in who we are becoming. This is a conversation for anyone longing to live with clarity, courage, and faith in a noisy world.
Edwina Findley is an award-winning film, television, and theatre actress, celebrated by critics as "a marvel to watch." Known to global audiences as the hilarious 'Sheila' in Shonda Rhimes' hit Netflix series "The Residence," Edwina first captured hearts as 'Tosha' on HBO's groundbreaking series "The Wire,” and garnered critical attention for her role as Rosie in Ava DuVernay's Sundance award-winning feature "Middle of Nowhere.” She then earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Female for her "skin-prickling performance" in "Free In Deed.” A vibrant and versatile actress, Edwina starred opposite Toni Collette in Amazon’s global thriller ”The Power,” as Kevin Hart's wife, Rita, in Warner Bros' hit comedy "Get Hard" with Will Ferrell, "Fear The Walking Dead," Tyler Perry’s “If Loving You is Wrong,” HBO’s “Veep,” “Rogue Agent,” “Black Lightning,” ”Chicago Med," HBO's "Treme," and "Shots Fired” from “Woman King” director Gina Prince-Bythewood.
Edwina is a native of Washington, DC, where she attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts then studied drama at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Edwina continued her studies at UCLA, Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB), and with Yale Drama’s Gregory Berger-Sorbeck. Theatrically, Edwina has performed around the world and at some of the nation’s finest theaters, including The Kennedy Center, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Juilliard, Atlantic Theatre Company, Center Theatre Group, Baltimore Centerstage, and Cleveland Playhouse. Edwina received a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for the historical drama Gee’s Bend, and an NAACP Theatre Award nomination for Eclipsed, set during the Liberian war.
Proclaimed in the New York Times as a “life force,” Edwina is a global speaker, mentor, and CEO of Abundant Life University. Edwina’s most cherished blessings are her loving husband Kelvin Dickerson and their bright and beautiful little girls, Victoria and London. Connect with Edwina at www.edwinafindley.com
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I didn't know, oh, God's gonna open the door back up again. And he did, you know, and he did in a big way. But sometimes we just have to have that faith to allow ourselves to go and grow through our waiting season so that he can get us to our Promised Land. You Joshua,
Joshua Johnson:hello and welcome to the shifting culture podcast in which we have conversations about the culture we create and the impact we can make. We long to see the body of Christ look like Jesus. I'm your host. Joshua Johnson, today we step into a conversation about dreams, about purpose and faith with actor, author and speaker, Edwina Finley Dickerson, from her early days at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts to the challenges and breakthroughs of Hollywood, Edwina has learned what it means to listen for God's voice. Navigate seasons of waiting and step boldly into her calling her new book The world is waiting for you, blends spiritual insight with practical steps, helping us discern our God given dreams and live them out with courage and intentionality. In this conversation, we talk about hearing God in the middle of crossroads, surrendering our ambitions while still planning with vision and finding purpose that runs deeper than achievement, whether you're in a season of momentum or in this quiet stretch of waiting, Edwina story will encourage you to keep pressing into the larger God dream of your life. So join us. Here is my conversation with Edwina. Finley, Dickerson, Edwina, welcome to shifting culture. Thank you so much for joining me.
Edwina Findley Dickerson:Thank you so much for having me. I'm
Joshua Johnson:excited to dive into the world is waiting for you. You're really talking to dreamers. You're talking to people that's looking for their god dream, to find their purpose and to live that out in the world. So I want to you to take me back into Washington, DC, the Duke Ellington School of Arts in high school. What was percolating for you? What was, what was your dream? What were you starting to dream of?
Edwina Findley Dickerson:Yeah, well, you know, if anyone's seen the movie Fame, you'll get a little bit of a taste of what it was to grow up at Duke Ellington. It was singing, dancing, acting all the time. We were unbridled, artistic children doing grande through the halls and singing, you know, operettas in the bathroom, and you know, coral was singing on the bus, that was just who we were, tap dancing on the sidewalks. You know, we just could not be contained as far as our artistic energy. And I'm still just so grateful for the staff and the teachers and, you know, just the even it's a DC public school, it was a public school at the time, I believe now is the charter school, you know, but the fact that they had a vision, they had a vision for these, you know, young inner city youth that they believed had gifting and had talent and had purpose, you know, enough to really invest in us and invest in Our education and to see us flourish. And so every chance I get, I go back. In fact, I might just be there two weeks from now. I just got a text from them last night. I saw your over interview. We want you to come back again. I know you just spoke at the commencement, but can you come back again? You know, but, but that means a lot to me, because I know where I was right as a as a young girl, with the dream of being in the arts. And, you know, it's beautiful to have a dream manifested.
Joshua Johnson:You dreamed of a life in the arts. It's not an easy thing to start to walk that out and to say, I'm going to do this. I'm going to actually get paid for this. I'm going to make a living at it. How did it move from a dream of Edwina as a young, as a child, into something of this is finding my purpose, and this is my god dream. What does that look like for you?
Edwina Findley Dickerson:Yeah, you know, when I was 16 years old, that was the first memory that I have of hearing God's voice. And it was at a time where I was really seeking God about what my life was going to look like and become. I was in that crossroads of coming out of, you know, about to come out of high school, and about to start, you know, applying for colleges and, oh, what does that look like? Am I going to go a route of becoming a doctor or a lawyer, or am I going to just step out on faith and take this huge risk with my life and pursue the arts and go to college for that? And so I was really at a crossroads. I was getting a lot of different advice from the adults in my life that were. Very conflicting. And so in the midst of that, I said, God, I just need to hear you. You know, where should I go to school and what should I study? And I heard him say to me that he was going to send me to school in New York and that I was to go to go into the arts as a career. And so that's what gave me as a young person, that assurance that okay, if I step out on faith, because it's a huge faith, move that God is going to be there to back me up.
Joshua Johnson:You talked about two different things in your book there that you just talked about. One is hearing God's voice and the importance of of God's voice, and two is is taking huge, bold faith moves right? And so both of those things are important. You know, one of the things that I say my life, my quote is, I like to say, is, listen to Jesus and DO what He says, like that. If you could just do that, I think you're gonna be set in life, right? Hear God's voice. You step out. I think a lot of people, they're either confused that this is God speaking, or they hear God and they don't want to take a bold faith move. They just want to just stay where they're at. How do we start to discern God's voice in our life? How do we start to know that this is God speaking to us?
Edwina Findley Dickerson:Well, to To be honest, a lot of the times when I've heard God's voice the strongest is when I have been willing to give up the most, when I've been at the end of myself, when I have fully surrendered and said, You know what God like? There were seasons where I was like, God, do you want me to give up acting? You know, there are people that said you should be a minister. You should go into the ministry. You know, I know this acting thing is nice, but really, you should be a pastor. And I just remember just crying out to God, like, God, I thought you told me entertainment, but if you didn't, I'm willing to go whatever way you would have me go like, I'm really, literally willing to lay it all down. And I find that when we get into that heart posture of really seeking God and getting to a place where you know what, yes, I have my own desires. Yes, I have my own dream, but I am, I'm willing to submit it under your dream, if you just reveal that to me, there's something about that heart posture that keeps us open to actually hearing what he has to say and not getting it so confused as far as what we have to say. And then there's times too where he may give instructions that look like the opposite of what you want to do, of where you want to go. You know, I've experienced that many times, where the instruction I'm being given seems so opposite from like where I want to go. But by practicing that obedience of following the instruction, turns out, who knew that it was going right in the direction that I was hoping to go the whole time. But sometimes he'll put these steps in front of you, you know, as he did with the children of Israel, to test your heart to see whether you're willing to keep my commands and and normally it's it's as a prerequisite for that promised land, right? And so we don't realize, like, there's an incredible promise led us in front of us, but it does require instructions, and adherence to the instructions.
Joshua Johnson:Give me an example in your life. So as you moved one way, you said, Okay, I heard God's voice. We're moving this direction. This is my god dream. These are the steps I think that we're supposed to take. I put my vision down. I have my vision board. I have all my goals written down, and then God gives you different instructions, and you follow that. What did that look like for you? What's an example like that for you?
Edwina Findley Dickerson:Yeah, so in the book, I talk about the waiting season, right? And different things can trigger you into a waiting season. For me, it was I had, I had already created my vision book. I had already created my my companion goals book. You know, I was feeling very excited about the world, and I was just coming out of NYU, and, you know, had big dreams as an actress. And then this, this opportunity came, this acting opportunity that came with a lot of money, a lot of prestige, you know, flew me first class to Hollywood stretch limousine. It was just like, so opulent. It was amazing. It was it beyond anything that I had experienced to that day, but it came with a nudity clause attached to it, and I didn't expect that, and I grieved that, because I was like, I don't, you know, I feel like that's going against my convictions. God, how could you take me all the way to the Promised Land, you know? But then have this caveat right presented to me, and it was very difficult. It was difficult. I did not have a lot of money. I did not have any press. Ease or clout, you know, and and here I'm being offered all these things, but it came, you know, with with, with this attachment that I just felt to My Spirit that God was not leading me in that direction. So by not signing, by not signing that, it kind of triggered me into this waiting season all over again. But the beauty of it was me seeing and discerning. Oh, that's what this is. Like, we're going into a season. It became clear to me that I was not to fight against the season. I was not to try and, like, make a whole lot of things happen. Like, Okay, that didn't happen, but let me try to get all these other things, you know, and that's my natural tempo. I'm I'm ambitious, I'm a go getter. And so it really took the Holy Spirit to say, this is a time where I need you to sit down. You're going into a winter season. I know you've been afraid of that because you've had spring, you've had summer, you know, you have enjoyed being outside. And now I'm calling you to hibernate, and now I'm calling you closer, and now I'm calling you into a more intimate relationship. You know that's not that's not marked by external success. And so I had to even reframe my own perspective of my identity, like, what does that look like to be worthy, but but not active, right or not what I would feel productive, but it was more so receiving and so, you know, when I write it in the book about the waiting season, a lot of times God gives us that time to hear from Him, to recalibrate to, you know, in that season, so many things, spiritual things and personal things happened. I learned my purpose. God gave me revelation about the Hollywood industry that I was entering into. So many prophetic words and revelation. I met my husband during that time, started an organization during that time, and really became passionate about service. And so service really became the bedrock of of everything you know, and and frankly, so many of the revelations in the book came during that, during that waiting season. And so, you know, I didn't know, oh, God's gonna open the door back up again. And he did, you know, and he did in a big way. But sometimes we just have to have that faith to allow ourselves to go and grow through our waiting season so that he can get us to our Promised Land.
Joshua Johnson:A lot of us hate that waiting season because, right, you're an achiever, you're a go getter, you're gonna actually, you're a mover and shaker. So you want to actually make this happen for you. I think a lot of people, you know, when I'm looking at, you know, I'm manifesting my own dreams. I'm doing something is I'm the one that is going to get me there. But you're trying. You're actually reframing some things for us and saying that you're doing this with God and as and one of the things I really like about your book is that you're talking about your purpose is not just your next initiative or the the actual thing that you do, but there is a a deeper purpose to your life, that no matter what initiative or work that you're doing, you're actually living that purpose. How have you reframe that and found the purpose that you're living and not just the work that you're doing.
Edwina Findley Dickerson:Yes, that's such an excellent question. Joshua, you know, for me, it was in that waiting season that that revelation came to me, because I realized that, okay, this season is not marked by all of the, you know, kind of big goals that I have, the professional goals and the financial goals and, you know, like that type of, as you would say, achievement, right? But it, what it did was, was get me closer to the heart of God and realize that the heart of God is way more than achievement, you know that and and, and, and then it also allowed me to see and understand that purpose transcends a job, purpose transcends an initiative, purpose transcends, you know, an occupation, or, in my case, a show or a movie, right? These are all individual expressions, hopefully, of your divine purpose. But I always say to aspiring actors and artists and creatives, I always say, you know, who are you when you're in between jobs, right? Like in our occupation, it's not a nine to five, it's not, you know, you you you come, and then you work for 40 years, and then you get your pension, and then you leave. It doesn't work like that. We're going from show to show, project to project, movie to movie, Stage to Stage, you know? And so there's, there's all kinds of time in between. And so does that mean that you are simply not operating in purpose? Because. You're not in a show currently, no, your life is much more valuable than that. And so when I began to lean into what is the you know, as an actor, we a part of our process of identifying characters is identifying their super objective, right? And so there's these acting techniques that, interestingly, I think really do apply to life, and even spiritual life. You know, when you're when you're creating a character, you look at, okay, what is the character super objective that that that flows throughout this entire movie or show, right? And then each scene is its own individual objective, right? And so I began to see that, oh, you know what, in life, I believe, even our lives with God, that we're giving a super objective, that there's this god dream that covers our entire life. But each of these, you know, we have chapters, and we have scenes, and we have moments right in between. And I think the hope is that we can continue to make our moments reflections of the grander God dream.
Joshua Johnson:We want to say that grander God dream is there. How did you start to to find it like? What? What does that look like for us? Like I, I have lots of different dreams. What you're talking about is greater purpose and identity more than just a specific goal that we have, yeah, how do we find it? Like, I think we're all looking for it,
Edwina Findley Dickerson:yeah, help us out. Yeah, sure. You know, in the book, I talk about unlocking your calling, right? And, and, and discover, like in the book, it kind of takes you through some very practical steps, some questions that you ask yourself, questions that you ask God, that you really take out time and carve out time to do some some soul searching, right? And you know, a part of that is really identifying the giftings that you have, the things that you may take for granted that you may just do all the time and you don't even realize you're doing it because you're doing it all the time, but sometimes it's not until you see yourself you know in conjunction with someone else, or even be able, like in the book, I suggest that people have conversations with The other people in their lives, like in your eyes, what makes me special? In your eyes, what makes me different? Because we don't always see it in ourselves. And so like, for instance, I had an aunt who all she did was bake, bake, bake, bake, bake, bake from scratch, you know? And and in her eyes, that's just so normal. That was so normal for her, right? And for me, who never makes I'm like, Oh my gosh, Aunt Muriel. Oh, I love her cooking. Oh, every time she comes around, she just warms our hearts, you know, with her delectable delights, right? And so she didn't really realize, like, the incredible, like the the the grand, this was a wonderful, grand dream day. I mean, can go in so many directions, as far as our baking and pow pies and cookies and cakes and, you know, all these things, right? But, but it was just so normal for her. And so I think all of us have these special you know, what I call in the book your superpower, right, that you can lean into once you've really identified that, and then being able to explore what else? Right? What else can I do with this? Where else can I go with that? You know? And I think also that that that we have to lean into our why? Right, like I write in the book about your holy discontent, you know. And part of that is what keeps you up at night, what makes you angry, what gives you joy, what is affecting your emotions in a way that you're being drawn to it. And so I find that even when people complain a lot about one particular thing, you know, it's like all you hear, they'll do is complain, complain, complain, complain about this one thing. Now I say I need you to lean into that, because it's very possible that your calling is directly connected to that one thing. And it's very possible that that one thing is a part of your holy discontent, right? And when I say that, I mean, it's, it's a righteous indignation. It's a righteous feeling of unsettled, you know, I'm, I'm unsettled with this, and I wish someone would do something about it, right? But sometimes that someone is you
Joshua Johnson:Exactly, exactly, you know, one of the things that I love your stories, of what you say in your book. And then, you know, interviews that you you've given just the way that you walk in the world, you really receive prophetic words. You give prophetic words. Prophecy is is a big thing in your life. One of the training sessions I do for for people is to figure out how to hear from God. And then to actually say what he's saying to other people is we do, you know, we have people sitting in chairs, their eyes are closed, and we basically do, like a musical chairs type thing. And then I have them pray, ask God to hear something for the person in front of them. They have no idea who it is. And then they open their eyes and they share it. So it's just starting to train them to hear from God. And I've had so many people in tears crying like we're like these words resonate like people are starting to hear from God. What is the role then, of prophetic words and prophecy for you and your life? How do we, like, receive them and give them without being so fearful that we're this is coming from us, we're not hearing God, right? Yeah, don't follow his, his word very well, yeah,
Edwina Findley Dickerson:um, I mean, obviously that's a big question, right? You know, and it's not really a one, one size fits all answer, but I do think, I think maybe having disclaimers may be good, right? Like, I'm feeling this really strongly. If this resonates with you, you know, take it. If it doesn't, I also understand. But I'm just, you know, I'm feeling led to tell you, x, right? And giving the other person that opportunity to say, like, okay, that resonates with me or doesn't resonate with me or, or, you know what, okay, thank you, right? Thank you. Like, there's been times in my life where immediately I know what a person has shared with me is absolute confirmation, because God already sent five people before them to tell me that message, and he was already telling me that message in the shower that morning, right? So it's like just confirmation, and some people feel that that's what prophetic words are, just strictly confirmation. But I will say that there have been words that I've received where I was like, no, no, no, absolutely not. That is not me. That's not what I want. That's not what God told me, that's not what God showed me. And then suddenly, you know, he'll send five other people with that message, like, wait, no, get away from me. What are you talking about? That is not confirmation. Not only is it not confirmation, I don't want it, you know, but for me, it's the repetition, right? It's the repetition of the word or the sign, you know, or the revelation that makes me say, Okay, God, especially if it's something I hadn't been paying attention to before, that makes me begin to surrender and and just go to God directly, because that's another thing. It's like God can use each of us to speak to one another, but ultimately he wants to be the person that we go to, right? And so and so, yeah, there. There have been some things like that, where when I surrendered and actually invited those things in my life, changed my life in the most wonderful way, but I just wouldn't have known, had I not surrendered, right? Had I not surrendered to the word, even if it was something that I didn't think I wanted, right? And it's like, by surrendering to God's plan, like, Okay, God, you're making it so clear that this is your plan. But that's not the way I want to go. And then, and then I finally go that way, and it's like, oh my gosh, I could have missed this. This is so amazing. I can't believe I could have missed it. So, you know, you asked about the role of prophecy in my life has really been a major guide. You know, there's, there's decisions that I've made that I would not have known to make had I not had a word in advance about it. So by the time it happened, it was like, Oh, this is the direction I'm supposed to say yes to this. I don't necessarily personally understand it all, but I know that's what God said, so let me move in that direction. And each time I've done that, it's come with tremendous blessing on the other side,
Joshua Johnson:I think that's sometimes really hard for people, is to actually notice that this is happening and notice the signs that God is speaking to you to move you in a specific direction. And I think we're in our attention age that we live in, and everything is vying for our attention. We're pretty bad at at focusing on something like, like the signs God is giving us. How can we slow down to to actually see the signs, to pay attention to the signs, to know where God is leading?
Edwina Findley Dickerson:Yeah, you know, one thing for me, you know, I talk about this in the book chapter five is the secret power of hearing God's voice. And I really start encouraging people, no matter how busy you are, even me, you know, I have to apply these same principles on a regular basis, and I do not always do a great job of it, you know, like these. I'm in a season right now that is incredibly busy. Been on a world tour. As far as the book, I have multiple interviews right after this, you know, and started six o'clock in the morning, but then have two little children, and they had to get to school and have a husband, you know, there's a lot happening. And so, you know, one of the things that I say for myself, and that I also encourage in the book, it's like really disciplining yourself to spend time with God and and carving out, carving out that time, because it's not just gonna happen. It's just not, you know, it's not just gonna happen. You have to be so intentional. You have to be so into this, as intentional as you are about going to work, as intentional as you are about checking your email, as intentional you are replying to your text messages, you know, is as intentional as we have to be to carve out time and say, God, you know what? In the midst of all of this, actually, your voice is, is the most valuable one to hear and and sometimes it can feel like we have, we have so many things to do that we don't have time to carve out. But if we, if we just kind of reposition that in the understanding, like in the book, I talk about the Pareto Principle, 8020 the 8020 rule, which essentially is, of the 100% of the things in your life, only 20% of the things that you do are actually moving the needle for the other 80% a lot of times the other 80% is a whole bunch of busyness. That is not actually what's moving, you know, the needle. It's really that, that sliver, that 20% and what I found when I when I take time to carve out with God that he'll show me the 20% he'll show me what are the fewer things to do that actually amount to the the bigger picture. And I say also, like, one thing I do is go on prayer walks, right? Sometimes I have to just put it all down, shut off the computer, turn off the phone. In fact, leave, leave the phone, right? Because if I take it, then I'll be on it, leave the phone, and literally, just go on a prayer walk. And my husband has started doing that too, you know? And there's something about that that's just saying, like, God, this time is for you. I give it to you, and also I ask that you will, that you will also give me your time, right, like actually speak to me in this time that I'm dedicating to you.
Joshua Johnson:It all boils down to simple things, being intentional, spending the time and listening to God. Everything that you're doing in this book, you have these, these two threads that come together. One is your intentionality. Like, you're going to put, you know, your vision book together. You're going to put your quarterly goals, your weekly goals, you're gonna like, these are the steps that I need to get to. You know, whatever dream that God has put in my heart like, this is where we're going, and I'm gonna get there. But then you also are like, hey, but we also have to surrender and trust God. We have to listen to His voice and actually go where he goes. How do we merge those things of the intentionality and the vision that we have and the trust and surrender to God's plan?
Edwina Findley Dickerson:We get the world is waiting for you, and we go through each chapter, that's what we do. I mean, honestly, like so much of that question, is what was poured into this book? Because I know many, many, many people who are so strong in faith, are just incredibly strong in faith, and who are prophetic and who spend a lot of time with God, and who I just really believe have have a gift of faith. But unfortunately, I've seen many people with a gift of faith that, you know, it's been years and years and years and years and years, and have not seen significant movement in their life in that direction. And then there's people that I know that are like, go getters, go getters, go getters, go getters, go getters, you know, who are very productive and very, you know, and and and hyper successful and have lots of money and all of that. But then they have this other place that, like, I feel lost and I don't know where I am in life, and I'm not sure what my purpose is. And, you know, there's these other parts of life that I've been wanting, and I don't know why they haven't shown up. And so I just really felt like, you know what? And in some ways, I'm both right, and I've had to come on a journey as a person of faith, who also, you know, has very strong goals, you know, as far as success and all those success principles, and it's like, how do you meld that faith and success together? And that's really what a lot of what this book is, right? It's spiritual principles and it's practical principles. So even you know, in that chapter, this time next year, chapter 10. Yeah. And, and in that chapter, plan like a rock star, right? There's people that say, oh, you know, if you want to make God laugh, show them your plans, right? And so it's kind of like an idea of, like, I don't need to plan anything, because my plans aren't going to work out anyway, because God has another plan, you know? But I sort of challenge that notion in the book, I say, well, didn't God have a plan when he created this universe? You know, wasn't it so specific? Right? He had a he had a project plan for each and every day. I'm going to create this on this day, this on this day, I'm going to wrap it all up on the sixth day, and then I'm going to rest on the seventh day. You know, it was very specific. And even the times and seasons in our world, or even if you look at plants and agriculture or a woman's body, right where it's all operating according to time and seasons and a very specific recurring plan. So when you begin to look at God as a master planner, then it doesn't get you off the hook of not planning because I have faith. I faith so I don't have to plan. No, you, you, you make your plans by faith and in faith, right? And so they come together. And especially, you know, for those who may be listening, who are prophetic, right? Like what I do when I get a prophetic word and I receive it, the next thing I want to know is, Okay, God, what are the steps? Right? What are the steps that you need me to take in the direction of like I said, what I call a god dream, you may call it prophetic word. You may call it a promise. You may call it just the word of the Lord. However you call it, what does it require of you to partner with God, to see the fruition of it, to see the manifestation of it? Yeah, so, so it's really that, that journey, and so that's what I really encourage people who feel that tension right now, to get the book, go through it, you know, really lean into it, and there's a lot of questions that the that the book invites you to ask yourself and ask God and you know, and the expectation is that when you go through that process, that things are going to become much more clear.
Joshua Johnson:Take me through just a couple of things that are holding people back from actually then planning and taking those steps. What are people afraid of? Yeah.
Edwina Findley Dickerson:So, yeah. So there's a whole chapter in the book about confront what's holding you back, because that's something that I've, you know, again, experienced and also seen, you know, over these 20 years of traveling around the world and having lots of speaking engagements and workshops and, you know, and just connecting with hundreds of 1000s of people, right? There's been patterns that I've seen as far as what holds us back for really manifesting the godliness over our life, fear, I think, is probably number one. And then I, you know, in the book, I break down different types of fear, fear fear of failure, fear of success, fear of man. You know, essentially, fear of man is, what are people going to think of me if I do this, right? Fear of failure. Well, if I really step out and I fail, then you know, maybe that, maybe that'll be worse than just not trying, because if I don't try, or if I don't put it out there, that this is what I want, then I'll never fail, right? And so I've, I've experienced many of those things. You know, also a lot of people, unfortunately, what thwarts them can be relationships, right, relationships that perhaps they should not be in. And I've unfortunately seen that many times, especially with a lot of women, I've seen how the enemy has come in and and distracted them away from the actual God dream that they were called to manifest. But you know, there's these detours that we can start to take in life. And so, you know, one of the things that in that chapter I really encourage is building up our wisdom and discernment about each of these different areas, so that we don't invite into our lives something that's going to be a stumbling block. You know, there's things like depression, right? That's that's real, you know, depression and mental health, that's very real, and that can really hold, you know, hold a person back from fully embracing the calling that God has. And so, you know, everything that's holding us back is not necessarily external. You know, sometimes it's internal. Sometimes it's things that we may not have a tremendous amount of control over in our own strength, but, but, you know, I encourage people even in the book, like if you need to have a therapist, if you need to have a counselor, if you need to go through a program you know, lean into the resources that are around you that can help you to move beyond this block, right? This, this thing that's holding you back so that you can flourish, right? Like God is, God is designed for us to flourish, and God's designed for us to live in abundance.
Joshua Johnson:Life Amen. What's your big hope for the world is waiting for you? What would you hope the readers would get from the book?
Edwina Findley Dickerson:Yeah, you know, ultimately, I love seeing lives transformed. I love seeing radical shifts in people's lives, right? I love when people have those aha moments of wow, you know this this resonate with me deeply, or this has caused me to now make another choice, and by making that other choice, suddenly, you open up yourself to a whole new level of life that you didn't even realize was a part of your reward and a part of your inheritance. So, you know, I have an organization, abundant life, university and, and that's, you know, kind of our goal, right for to see everybody around the world live in their abundant life.
Joshua Johnson:That's beautiful. That's beautiful. A couple really quick questions at the end. One, Edwina, if you go back to your 21 year old self, what advice would you
Edwina Findley Dickerson:give? I would you give? I think I would tell her that the end is good. The end is good that there are some things that you have to contend with now, but just know that the promise that you're believing for on the other side will come to pass
Joshua Johnson:that's good. Anything you've been reading or watching lately, you could recommend.
Edwina Findley Dickerson:There are certain pastors that I really love, like I love Dr AR Bernard. I was recently at his church last Sunday with the book. Quite a few people are in transition now. You know, as far as ministries and age and, you know, are kind of passing the baton. And so, you know, I talk about him, actually, quite a bit in the book. So he, I would say he and Dr miles Monroe, you know, I think are just great examples of people who've been able to kind of bring together faith and, you know, prosperity or success or achievement, you know, those kinds of things in a way that still honors God, you know, but but encourages us to lean into our purpose. So, you know, those are just a few of the people that I would recommend, excellent.
Joshua Johnson:Well, the world is waiting for you. Is out now, anywhere books are sold, so you could go and get this fantastic book. Edwina, I loved it. A lot of fun. I just enjoyed being inspired to be able to actually live out the God dreams that he has actually put in my heart. That may I have, may have been held back from one thing or another and saying, Okay, these are the steps that I need to take, and I need to start doing some planning. So thank you for for this in my own life, and I know that it'll actually impact a lot of people. So hopefully go and get that book The world is waiting for you. Is there anywhere that you'd like to point people to to connect with you? Any upcoming projects you want to look out for?
Edwina Findley Dickerson:Yeah, they can. They can go to the world is waiting.org The world is waiting.org. Has resources. There's aspects in the book that they can tap into. There's also a God dreamers Academy that's starting for people who are going through this book and just really want, you know, to go the next step of the journey. Right, as far as implementing a lot of these things, I would encourage them to join the god dreamers Academy. There's a Connect page right there on that page, and they can fill out their information and connect with me. And then also, you know, I'm very active on social media, especially on Instagram. I'm at Edwina Finley, so folks can definitely stay in touch. Great.
Joshua Johnson:Well, I love following you on Instagram. Saw that we you went to a little Safari place in South Africa. My family went a couple years ago to the same place. Saw the little cheetah run. Yeah, we were there. I don't know. Did they have the crazy ostrich come out for you.
Edwina Findley Dickerson:Oh, that was definitely an ostrich. Ostriches. Oh, gosh, that was fun. Oh, that what a small world.
Joshua Johnson:Yeah, it was a lot of fun. So go, yeah, follow Edwina and see those incredible things. So, Edwina, this was fantastic. Really loved our conversation. So thank you me too.
Edwina Findley Dickerson:Thanks so much, Joshua, Have a blessed day. You.
