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 together we get refreshingly honest about something so many of us quietly wrestle with: procrastination. Not the lazy kind, the kind that comes from caring deeply about getting it right.

We talk about why hesitation is often just protection in disguise, and how perfectionism can keep your dream simmering on the back burner indefinitely. 

If you struggle with procrastination too, here's what I want you to hear: that stalling isn't a character flaw. It's a sign of how much this dream matters to you.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE:

• Why trusting God and acting on that trust can feel like two very different things
• How dreaming about the future can quietly replace doing the work of today
• What your personal wiring has to do with choosing your next right step
• Why imperfect progress beats perfect stillness — every single time

I also share something I believe wholeheartedly: everything we do is just practice. The missteps, the detours, the seasons that felt "wasted" — they're all shaping you for exactly where God is calling you next.

If you've been waiting for permission to move forward without having it all figured out, consider this your moment.

And if you're craving community with women who get it — women who are pursuing God-sized dreams and cheering each other on — I'd love to have you inside Dream Believers, my virtual community built just for you. 

👉 Learn More: merrittonsa.com/dreambelievers

🔗 Connect with Erin Straza

• Website: http://erinstraza.com/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinstraza/ 

Devoted Dreamers is hosted by Merritt Onsa, a Christian life coach, mentor, speaker, and founder of Dream Believers. New episodes drop every week for the woman who believes her best chapter isn't behind her.

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MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Transcript

Erin Straza [00:00:00]:

So it's almost like procrastinating puts me in this limbo of like everything is still possible and I'm still avoiding failure. It's great. And so I feel like that's where I get stuck is like I'm so busy thinking ahead to like it can be so great out there, but it's like, but today you gotta actually do something.

Merritt Onsa [00:00:25]:

Welcome to season 14 of the Devoted Dreamers podcast. Welcome to The God Shaped Dream Podcast. I'm Merritt Ansa, and this season, instead of traditional interviews, I'm inviting trusted friends to have real conversations about what it looks like to pursue a God-shaped dream in the second half of life. These are honest, thoughtful conversations about faith, doubt, growth, and the very ordinary steps it takes to move forward when you have a God-shaped dream. Today I'm joined by my longtime friend, Erin Straza. A writer, a nonprofit communications consultant, and someone who's experienced meaningful shifts in her calling over the last decade. I've broken up this conversation with Erin into 4 separate topics, which I'm planning to share over 4 weeks. That's going to be our cadence here in 2026 as I experiment with this whole concept of visiting co-hosts.

Merritt Onsa [00:01:16]:

Thanks for coming along for the ride. In this episode, Erin and I are talking about trusting God. Why procrastination might show up as a form of protection, and what it looks like to take a step when the far-off idea of your dream feels safer than the getting-started version. Let's dive in.

Erin Straza [00:01:35]:

I think all of us would, would say like to that question, do you trust God? Yes. Yes. Right? Yes. Yes. Of course. Of course I do. But then there are the, that those internal feelings again of like, ooh, but I still feel this way and I don't like feeling this way. And so I think that there's that kind of like that melding of what does trust and faith look like and how do we balance those things out and why is it that we avoid taking the action even though we say we trust? Like, what is that? Kind of like we can't rationalize it away.

Erin Straza [00:02:26]:

Like we can't rationalize, well, I trust God and yet I still can't take a step. It's like, what are those two things? It's like the, the, on the one hand, the trusting and on the other hand of like, eh, but do I want to step forward? I, it's so hard to balance those things out and to, to move forward with that faith. In trust. 

Um, I feel like there are a lot of things that can hold me back, even though I trust God. Um, there's something with me being, um, this is why I love that you're Devoted Dreamers. I, I am dreamy. Like, I'm like, all things are possible out there in the future, way in the future. And that means like the action can wait until way in the future because it's out there.

Erin Straza [00:03:17]:

But actually, I'm living my life today. And am I going to take steps today? And it's so easy for me to be like, that's way out there. And so that, that can put me in that procrastination mode of like, oh my gosh, yeah, it's not needed today. Like the action is actually later. And when it's later, it's all bubbly and I trust God and I'm all excited because on down the road I see what could be. And so when I sort that through, like, what is it that would keep me, you know, stuck, I guess, um, that's very often how I would describe me being like I'm stuck and need to take a step. Um, it's almost like it's not that I don't trust God. It's that I, I think I'm too focused in on me.

Erin Straza [00:04:09]:

And it's like, do I have the skills, the abilities to do the thing? And if the action and the thing is still way out there, then it's still possible. It's out there. 

But if I have to actually sit down and do the thing, I have to face the reality of I may not have the skill and talent to do it. And then I don't want to feel bad about not being able to do it. So it's almost like procrastinating puts me in this limbo of like, everything is still possible and I'm still avoiding failure. It's great! And so I feel like that's where I get stuck is like, I'm so busy thinking ahead to like, it can be so great out there, but it's like, but today you got to actually do something.

Merritt Onsa [00:05:00]:

Yeah.

Erin Straza [00:05:01]:

Yeah. That, that's hard for me.

Merritt Onsa [00:05:03]:

Oh my gosh. Yeah, this is really good because I've been writing about this in my newsletter. Like, it's like, why do we know in our mind, like, okay, I need to— maybe it's sit down and write. You know, I've, I've promised myself in 2026 I'm gonna write X number of words a week, or whatever it might be for your dream, right? And then you walk by the laundry room, it's like, oh yeah, I forgot I was going to put a load of whites in. Oh, that'll just take a minute.

Erin Straza [00:05:40]:

Yep.

Merritt Onsa [00:05:41]:

Um, and then 30 minutes later you're off doing something else because it doesn't, it didn't have the, the pressure of sitting down to write.

Erin Straza [00:05:55]:

You're not going to fail at putting in a load of laundry.

Merritt Onsa [00:05:57]:

No, you're so good at that.

Erin Straza [00:05:58]:

I'm so good at that. So it's like, let me do the thing I know I can't fail at. I can, I can do that. Yes. 

Merritt Onsa [00:06:06]:

Yeah. And I mean, yes, our laundry has to be done.

Erin Straza [00:06:09]:

Yeah.

Merritt Onsa [00:06:10]:

Um, but it does seem like, uh, we're breaking promises to ourselves.

Erin Straza [00:06:17]:

Yeah. Yeah.

Merritt Onsa [00:06:22]:

If you've been listening to this thinking, I would love to have more conversations like this. I want you to know that's exactly what goes on inside Dream Believers. If God has given you an assignment where you get to use your gifts, talents, and life experiences for his kingdom, it was never meant to be carried alone. 

We need other women around us who love Jesus, who ask wise questions, who can help us see clearly and remind us of who we are in him when the fear begins to rise up. Dream Believers is a community built on consistent gatherings with the right women, honest conversations about the highs and lows of pursuing a dream and taking faithful steps forward together, even when our dreams look completely different. 

We really do need one another, and that's why I built Dream Believers. If you're curious about what this could look like for you, learn more at merrittonsa.com/dreambelievers. I'd love to invite you to walk with us.

Merritt Onsa [00:07:21]:

And as you were talking about, I love the visual of like your dream out in the future is all bubbly. I'm imagining glitter and streamers and it's just so pretty. But today there's not like a, you know, 10 steps to reach glittery dream phase.

Erin Straza [00:07:41]:

Yeah.

Merritt Onsa [00:07:42]:

So I don't really know what to do today, or I maybe have 6 options. And I'm not sure or confident which one is going to take me to that envisioned state. So it's just easier to say, let's do the thing that I know. 

And, you know, I'll even say that's probably where I was last fall or summer before I quote unquote quit the podcast, you know, where I was like, I know what to do, just schedule interviews.

Erin Straza [00:08:19]:

Yep.

Merritt Onsa [00:08:19]:

Record them, post them, you know, like do the thing that I keep doing. And it was until somebody asked the question, um, you know, would I want it to look this way 5 years from now? Would what I'm doing today be what I would hope to be doing 5 years from now? And I was like, oh my gosh, no, no. Not that there's anything wrong with those things, right? But I think I had gotten so in the rut of do the thing I know.

Erin Straza [00:08:50]:

Yeah. Yeah.

Merritt Onsa [00:08:51]:

That it stomped out my creativity. Plus I was exhausted doing the thing that I knew.

Erin Straza [00:08:57]:

So it's like, man, like you can procrastinate on both sides of like starting something and stopping something. And all of it is scary because it's change. And so I think making space for potential, like adding things in or removing things, it's so needed. But even that is just so hard. It's just, it's so hard to decide. And it's hard to know, like, if I do this thing, what will the outcome be? There are no guarantees. And sometimes we like that, but most of the time it's like, oh, but I want it to turn out a certain way. 

Merritt Onsa:

Yeah.

Erin Straza [00:09:44]:

I want it. I want all the bubbly joy stuff now. And can you tell me for sure that I'll have it? It's like, no, we can't. Yeah.

Merritt Onsa [00:09:53]:

Oh my gosh. Yeah. So you were talking earlier about you had envisioned yourself writing book after book after book.

Erin Straza [00:10:00]:

Yeah.

Merritt Onsa [00:10:02]:

And instead, what happened is you wrote a book, published, and then, then, then what happened?

Erin Straza [00:10:11]:

Well, then there was the promo of the book, which I heard was a lot. And it was. And I'm not saying it was worse than writing the book, but it felt like you were on a high-speed train. And like, there were so many people saying, you should do this, you should do that, you should do this. And it was so overwhelming to me. And, um, that zapped me. Like, the amount of effort that was needed for that was a lot.

Erin Straza [00:10:48]:

And, um, Hannah and I were podcasting, which I loved. That was not overwhelming. Um, and I loved that. I think in my mind what I thought was going to happen is I was going to write this book and then, um, I'm on, you know, all these other podcasts. You do all these interviews, you do all these things, do all these articles. Um, and Hannah and I had our podcast, so we had a lot of guests and a lot of listeners. I thought more people would ask me to come to these conferences, write these things.

Merritt Onsa [00:11:29]:

Like it would open doors for you having published a book.

Erin Straza [00:11:32]:

That's what it would be like now. Um, that it happened like right around the book, but then it didn't keep happening. And then I was like, oh, I'd have to keep doing this high-speed train. And I don't know that that's a good fit for my personality. And so I just was like, I'm just exhausted. And then I'm so exhausted, I can't think of things to write. 

Merritt Onsa [00:11:58]:

Right, it's all tied together. Yeah.

Erin Straza [00:12:02]:

So that's why I'm not saying I will never write again, because I think I will just always be thinking of it, and I would love to keep writing. But I am somebody who needs so much time and space to think and to process, and, um, I'm not in that phase of life right now. And so that's why it didn't unfold that way. I think, um, in my mind I thought, oh, I'm gonna have the life of a writer 

And what I thought the life of the writer was, was like a lot of coffee shops and just sitting and thinking and, um, somehow that's sustainable living-wise. I don't, yeah, that's not what that is now. I still love a good coffee shop and some time to think and stare out the window. Um, but that can't be my main thing right now. And so I just do that.

Erin Straza [00:12:55]:

Just to stay sane. I'm not like writing a book or anything. So, so yeah, yeah, it's just different than what I thought.

Merritt Onsa [00:13:06]:

Um, well, and, and what you said about, um, for your personality.

Erin Straza [00:13:12]:

Yeah.

Merritt Onsa [00:13:13]:

You came to understand that this thing that you thought you really wanted.

Erin Straza [00:13:18]:

Yeah.

Merritt Onsa [00:13:18]:

Wasn't actually the best fit.

Erin Straza [00:13:20]:

No. It wasn't. And I would still— I mean, I am— I love books. I love reading. If I could just be in books 24/7, I would do it. So I would still love to write more just because I love the medium and I love—I love working with ideas. I—to me, it's like working with sourdough or something. Like, I just want to be in it and I just want to work the ideas.

Um, but I think I've learned there are many ways to do the things that I love. And it doesn't have to look one way. Um, and so, yeah, just sort of releasing a little bit of that, but then being willing to still hold it lightly and like, oh, that, that still has potential. It's just not right now today.

Merritt Onsa [00:14:06]:

Yeah.

Erin Straza [00:14:07]:

Yeah. I don't think I'm procrastinating that one, but maybe we'll see.

Merritt Onsa [00:14:13]:

There's only so many hours in a day.

Erin Straza [00:14:15]:

It's a little back burner. It's, it's, it's in the crock pot. On low.

Merritt Onsa [00:14:23]:

So I was thinking about when we met, you hadn't published that book yet, right?

Erin Straza [00:14:28]:

No.

Merritt Onsa [00:14:30]:

So if you had, if you could have seen clearly what was coming, would it have changed anything? I mean, I think we're afraid of that. I'm going to try this, it's not going to go the way I hope, then I'm going to be disappointed. And how do I deal with those feelings, right? And so I don't know, I don't think I would change it.

I really don't. I feel like I learned so much about who I am and how God's made me and to be okay with that. Um, and also it was stretching. I mean, there was a whole lot in there that was just very discomforting and, um, grew me, stretched me, changed me. And yeah, I mean, it wasn't what I thought, but it was still so sweet and such a neat thing, and I wouldn't change it. And yeah, I learned so much. I don't think I would be where I am today without that experience. So I wouldn't, I wouldn't want it to have gone a different way.

Merritt Onsa [00:15:41]:

If you recognize yourself in that limbo space, where everything about your dream still feels possible and you haven't risked failure yet. Just notice that without condemnation, because I would bet the enemy has already tried that with you—tried to make you believe that your procrastination on this idea is a sign that you don't have what it takes or that you don't care enough about the dream. But what if, instead, it’s proof that you care deeply, so much that you're afraid of getting it wrong. 

For just a moment, imagine this: What if the goal isn't to get it right? What if the goal is simply to begin? Come back next week as Erin and I talk about practice over perfection, the courage to start small, and why a little bit of structure might be exactly what helps you move forward. 

Keep taking the next faithful step. I'll be here cheering you on.