The Devoted Dreamers Podcast
What if the dream in your heart was placed there by God for a reason?
Merritt Onsa, host of The Devoted Dreamers Podcast, helps Christian women in midlife find the courage to pursue their God-shaped dreams—even when fear, doubt, and imposter syndrome say they’re not ready.
Through real conversations with women living out their callings and short solo episodes full of biblical truth and encouragement, you’ll discover:
✨ How to move forward even when you feel unqualified
✨ The source of lies that keep dreamers stuck (and the truth that sets you free)
✨ Practical wisdom for taking the next brave step with God
This is your safe place to wrestle with questions about how to move forward, get clarity for your calling, and remember you don’t have to do it alone.
Together we're building a community of sisters in Christ who will remind you where your hope lies and encourage you to keep taking the next step.
If you’re ready to stop second-guessing and start walking boldly with Jesus toward the life He’s calling you to, you’re in the right place.
Episodes
414 episodes
When Scripture Is the Anchor for Your Dream
~ This week marks 10 years of the Devoted Dreamers podcast, and I am celebrating by sharing one of my favorite conversations from the archives. Author, speaker, and college instructor, Heather Holleman, PhD, loves helping women fall...
How to Trust God with Your Dream When You Feel Unsure
Does the fear of getting it wrong keep you from moving forward on your dream project?This is one of the most common concerns I hear from Christian women who are looking for the courage to trust God with something that matters deeply. Thi...
How to Feel Loved by God in a Way That Changes You
Knowing God’s love and actually feeling loved by Him can seem like two completely different things.That gap is exactly what this episode is about. My co-host Kari Eliza of Held Right Here has spent years at the intersection of attachment...
Feeling Distant from God? What’s Really Going On
~ You’re reading your Bible and praying throughout the day and yet God still doesn’t feel close. You don’t have a discipline problem, so it’s got to be something else. In this episode, I’m back in conversation with Kari Eliza, the v...
Why You Struggle to Rest in God (Even When You Believe)
~ Does your relationship with God feel like something you’re trying to achieve?If you have ever wondered why doing more and working harder doesn’t result in the deeper relationship you desire with God, there’s actually a really good expl...
Is It the Right Time to Pursue Your God-Given Dream?
~ What’s the right timing for your dream?There’s a question I hear all the time, especially from women who already have a full life:Is this the right time to pursue my dream?Maybe you’ve asked it too. Y...
Confidence Isn't Something You Build Before You Start
~ You have been thinking about this dream for a while now. Maybe a long while. And somewhere in the back of your mind, there is a quiet but persistent question: what is it going to take to finally feel ready?This episode is for you if yo...
How to Overcome Self-Doubt and Step into Your Calling
~ Has self-doubt ever talked you out of something God was calling you toward?It’s more common than you think. And it might be the very thing keeping you from the dream God placed on your heart.In this episode, I'm talking about so...
How to Figure Out the Next Best Step Toward a Dream
~ Are you a Christian woman trying to figure out the next right step for a dream? You feel like God has called you to something more in midlife, but what should you do about it? I've spent the last 10 years talking to women about th...
Say Your Dream Out Loud Before You Talk Yourself Out of It
~ What if the thing standing between you and your dream is simply that you have never said it out loud?In this episode, my friend and co-host Erin Straza and I get honest about what it actually takes to go after something that feels bigg...
Practice Over Perfection: Faithful Steps Toward Your Dream
~ Have you been holding back, waiting for the perfect plan or just the right timing to go after a dream? In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend Erin Straza for an honest conversation about what it actually looks like to...
Faith, Fear & Dreams: Stop Procrastinating, Start Moving
~ Have you ever felt stuck between a dream God has given you and the fear of taking the wrong step? If yes, this conversation is for you.This month I'm joined by my friend and non-profit communications consultant Erin Straza, and togethe...
The Readiness Myth: Start Before You Feel Confident
~ The dream has been there for a while now. You can feel it.But every time you consider the next leap of faith, something stops you. Maybe it sounds like: "I'm not ready yet." Or "What if I'm wrong about this?"
How Daily Gratitude Reshapes Your Faith and Focus
I’m closing out this 10-part Habit Series with one of the simplest and most transformative practices I’ve ever picked up: daily gratitude.In this episode, I share why spending just one or two minutes thanking God before your day begins c...
The Habit Most Dreamers Skip (and Why It Matters)
When it comes to creativity and taking action on our dreams, there’s a lot of talk about moving forward, but we don’t spend nearly enough time looking back.That’s why I’m adding this brand-new habit to the Devoted Dreamers Habit Series: ...
Finding the Courage to Try Before You Feel Ready
Most of us say we want to grow, but when it comes time to step out of our comfort zone, we hesitate. Not because we don’t care, but because trying something we’ve never done before puts us face to face with uncertainty, insecurity, and the poss...
Email Clutter Is Stealing Your Time. Let’s Fix That.
If you feel like your inbox is always demanding from you, you’re not crazy. Email is one of those sneaky little drains that doesn’t just steal time, it steals attention. And attention is necessary for stewarding a God-shaped dream.In tod...
Why Better Sleep Matters More Than You Think
For a long time, I believed I didn’t have time to sleep more. My life was full, my evenings felt like the only quiet hours I had to myself, and going to bed earlier felt like giving something up I couldn’t afford to lose. And yet, I was exhaust...
A Weekly Planning Rhythm for Real Life and Big Dreams
Weekly planning doesn’t have to be complicated or rigid to be purposeful. At its core, it’s simply a protected block of time where you slow down, look ahead, and decide how you want to steward the week you’ve been given.In this mini epis...
A Realistic Daily Movement Habit for Busy Women
Depending on your season of life (or the season in your hemisphere), getting outside to move your body every day can feel surprisingly hard. Maybe you’re juggling work, caring for children or aging parents, and managing everyday household respo...
Why Sabbath Rest Fuels Your God-Given Dream
What if the exhaustion you feel at the end of every week is an invitation to live differently?You’ve landed at the third mini episode in my Habits Series. In this one, I’m talking about Sabbath rest, not because we need another rule to f...
A Simple Way to Build a Daily Habit of Reading the Bible
If you’ve ever wanted to spend more time reading the Bible but felt overwhelmed or struggled with consistency, this episode is for you. In this second mini episode of my Habits series, I share a simple, doable way to build a daily Bib...
Why Small Habits Matter More Than Big Goals This Year
If God has given you a dream about what to do with the second half of your life but you’re not sure where to begin, give this episode a listen. I’m kicking off season 14 with my popular Habits series. In it I’ll tell you why small, ...
Why I Took a Break and Why Devoted Dreamers Is Back
If you’ve ever needed permission to slow down and start again, this episode is for you.After a five-month pause, the Devoted Dreamers Podcast is back. In this season opener, I share why I stepped away from podcasting, what burnout...