The Devoted Dreamers Podcast

Merritt Onsa: Dream Mentor | Christian Entrepreneur | Community Host
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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. 

  1. 1D AGO

    Confidence Isn't Something You Build Before You Start

    Send us Fan Mail ~ 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 you have been waiting on confidence to come before you begin. Because the hard truth is that the waiting might be the very thing keeping you from the activity that would grow it. In this episode, I dig into three mistakes women make when it comes to confidence, and any one of them can quietly stall a dream for months or years. Believing there is a shortcut that will make starting feel easierThinking confidence comes from getting things right the first timeLooking to yourself as the source of itThat last one is the shift that changes everything. Because your confidence was never meant to come from you. It was meant to be secured in God, in who He is, and in what He has already placed inside you. I close the episode with two specific Scripture passages I want you to sit with: Romans 8:11, 14-17 and Acts 2:1-4. These are the foundation everything else in this episode is built on. If you are ready to figure out what your next step actually looks like, I would love to have you join me for my April 23rd workshop, The Next Best Step for Pursuing a God-shaped Dream. Register at merrittonsa.com/workshop. NEXT STEPS: Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android Join the Dream Believers community MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST: Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson. Theme music by Reaktor Productions. Ad music by Komiku.

    21 min

  2. APR 15

    How to Overcome Self-Doubt and Step into Your Calling

    Send us Fan Mail ~ 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 something I see in almost every woman I coach: the tendency to downplay our abilities and wait until we feel ready before we take a single step forward. The problem is, that moment of feeling ready rarely comes on its own. Here are three things I want you to walk away knowing today: You do not have to have it all figured out before you start.You do not have to feel confident before you begin.You do not have to be perfectly competent to take the next step.I also dig into one of my favorite stories in Scripture: Moses at the burning bush. Moses witnessed miracles, heard directly from God, and still said, "Please send someone else." If that is not relatable, I don't know what is. His story reminds us that self-doubt in the face of a calling is nothing new, and that God's presence is what makes the calling possible, not your readiness. Your dream has nothing to do with trying to be perfect. God gave it to you in love and grace, and He does not expect you to fulfill it a certain way. Your job is simply to be faithful and take the next step. If you are ready to work through this and figure out what your next step actually looks like, I would love to have you join me for my workshop, The Next Best Step for Pursuing a God-shaped Dream. Register at merrittonsa.com/workshop. **This episode was originally released on 1/19/2022.  NEXT STEPS: Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android Join the Dream Believers community MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST: Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson. Theme music by Reaktor Productions. Ad music by Komiku.

    20 min

  3. APR 8

    How to Figure Out the Next Best Step Toward a Dream

    Send us Fan Mail ~ 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 their dreams. What I've learned is that most of us are not stuck because we lack talent or even faith. We're stuck because the dream feels bigger than us, and we don't know how to move forward or who to process it with. A God-shaped dream is a specific calling that uses your gifts, your faith, and even the hard things you've walked through. It serves others. And it carries kingdom value in a broken world that desperately needs hope and healing. Because of that, you are not meant to carry the dream alone. No, we were meant to do this together! You, marching forward, faithfully carrying your dream, walking alongside other women who are carrying theirs.  This is important kingdom work, and this is why I'm hosting a workshop just for you on April 23rd, 2026.  Join me for The Best Next Step for Pursuing a God-Shaped Dream. Whether you're just beginning, shifting gears, or somewhere in the messy middle, this is your space. In this episode, I cover: What makes a dream "God-shaped" and why that distinction mattersWhy feeling overwhelmed or uncertain doesn't mean you're off trackHow to move forward without waiting for a perfect planCome to the workshop and determine the next best step for your dream. There's no homework, no pressure, and no perfect starting point required. Just you, your dream, and a room full of women who get it. RSVP at merrittonsa.com/workshop and come ready to breathe, think, and take your next step. God made you for a purpose, and He can be trusted with the dream He gave you. NEXT STEPS: Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android Join the Dream Believers community MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST: Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson. Theme music by Reaktor Productions. Ad music by Komiku.

    12 min

  4. APR 1

    Say Your Dream Out Loud Before You Talk Yourself Out of It

    Send us Fan Mail 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 bigger than you. We talk about renewing your mind, knowing who God says you are, and why speaking the dream matters more than having a perfect plan to follow. Before we close out the conversation with Erin, she shares a story about her husband Mike, a 56-year-old competitive runner whose coach challenged him to name a time goal he had been too afraid to voice. That moment was a game-changer and sheds light on how we think about a God-shaped dream. In this conversation, we’re talking about: The daily choice to set your mind on life and light instead of fear and doubtWhy knowing you are a beloved daughter of God is the foundationHow saying the dream out loud is an act of faith rather than prideYou do not have to say it publicly or post it online, but you do need to say it to someone you trust. That is exactly why I built Dream Believers, a community where women pursue God-shaped dreams together, are honest about the highs and lows, and remind each other who we are in Him. Learn more and join today: https://www.merrittonsa.com/dreambelievers. The dream God placed in you was never meant to stay hidden. Sometimes we think we need to see the whole path before we can take the next step, but that’s simply not true. Your job is to be faithful to what is right in front of you today. NEXT STEPS: Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android Join the Dream Believers community MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST: Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson. Theme music by Reaktor Productions. Ad music by Komiku.

    21 min

  5. MAR 25

    Practice Over Perfection: Faithful Steps Toward Your Dream

    Send us Fan Mail 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 start something when you don't feel qualified, confident, or certain it's going to work. We talk about the real cost of perfectionism and why it will knock you out every time if you let it. In this episode we dig into: Why the momentum you're looking for comes from starting, not from waiting until you feel readyHow a simple outline, even just two to four things written down, can break the grip of feeling stuckWhy treating your early attempts as practice, not performance, changes everythingOne of the things Erin said that I keep coming back to is that we champion a child’s first steps because we're on the outside looking in and we know it’s bound to happen. We need that same encouragement too. If you're in a season where you feel stuck and you're longing for women who will walk with you toward your dream, I want you to know that's exactly why I built Dream Believers. It's a community of women who love Jesus, ask good questions, and show up for each other through the messy, faithful middle.  Learn more at merrittonsa.com/dreambelievers And remember, the goal was never to be perfect. The goal is to be faithful to what God has given you right now. NEXT STEPS: Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android Join the Dream Believers community MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST: Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson. Theme music by Reaktor Productions. Ad music by Komiku.

    20 min

  6. MAR 18

    Faith, Fear & Dreams: Stop Procrastinating, Start Moving

    Send us Fan Mail 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 thingsHow dreaming about the future can quietly replace doing the work of todayWhat your personal wiring has to do with choosing your next right stepWhy imperfect progress beats perfect stillness — every single timeI 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. NEXT STEPS: Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android Join the Dream Believers community MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST: Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson. Theme music by Reaktor Productions. Ad music by Komiku.

    17 min

  7. MAR 11

    The Readiness Myth: Start Before You Feel Confident

    Send us Fan Mail 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?" Or the most persistent one: "I don't want to waste the precious time I have left." If that's where you are right now, this episode is for you. To open Season 14, I sit down with my longtime friend, writer, and nonprofit communications consultant Erin Straza. Together, we unpack the belief so many women carry: that confidence must come before courage. Spoiler: That's not how it works. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL DISCOVER: ✦ Why "I don't feel ready" is rarely about readiness.  ✦ What to do when you're not sure this is the right dream.  ✦ A different way to interpret the nerves.  This is the episode to send to the woman in your life who has a dream she keeps putting off. And if that woman is you, it's time. 🌿 You Were Never Meant to Do This Alone If this conversation made you wish you had women in your corner who actually talk about these things, that longing is telling you something. Dream Believers is a community for Christian women who have sensed God stirring something meaningful and want to take steps forward. We gather around three things that actually move dreams forward: Proximity: the right women walking beside you  Consistency: showing up regularly so momentum becomes real  Depth: honest conversations about faith, fear, calling, and taking the next step If you're ready to pursue your dream in a way that's rooted in Scripture, aligned with how you're wired, and supported by women who get it, come find your people. 👉 merrittonsa.com/dreambelievers 🔗 Connect with Erin Straza Website: erinstraza.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/erinstraza/ Devoted Dreamers is hosted by Merritt Onsa — 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. Learn more about the Dream Believers community at: merrittonsa.com/dreambelievers NEXT STEPS: Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android Join the Dream Believers community MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST: Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson. Theme music by Reaktor Productions. Ad music by Komiku.

    33 min

  8. FEB 2 ·  BONUS

    How Daily Gratitude Reshapes Your Faith and Focus

    Send us Fan Mail 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 can quietly reshape your mindset, soften pessimism, and strengthen your ability to persevere in the long haul. I’ll walk you through how I practice daily gratitude, why I keep it intentionally simple, and how this habit has helped me stay grounded even in seasons marked by uncertainty, grief, and things I cannot control. We’ll also zoom out and talk about why gratitude matters so much when you’re nurturing a God shaped dream. Consistency, self-leadership, and perseverance are not just personality traits. They are muscles you build. Daily gratitude is one small habit that strengthens all three. If you’ve felt discouraged, stuck in negativity, or unsure how to keep going faithfully with the dream God has placed on your heart, this episode will help you reset your focus and start your day from a place of trust and truth. And before I wrap up, I’m also giving you a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming next for the Devoted Dreamers Podcast. I’ll share how Season 14 is evolving, why I’m changing the format, and what you can expect as we head into a new season focused on taking meaningful action on your God-shaped dream. Get the Habit Tracker here: merrittonsa.com/habits NEXT STEPS: Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android Join the Dream Believers community MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST: Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson. Theme music by Reaktor Productions. Ad music by Komiku.

    13 min
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About

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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Merritt Onsa: Dream Mentor | Christian Entrepreneur | Community Host
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    408
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Devoted Dreamers Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Devoted Dreamers Podcast

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