The Devoted Dreamers Podcast
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© 2026 The Devoted Dreamers Podcast
Description
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.
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Send us a text 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 ground...
Send us a text 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: Scheduled Reflection. It’s a practice I didn’t include when I first launched the series, but it’s one I’ve come to see as essential for long-term faithfulness to a God-shaped dream. Here’s why: Without a consistent reflection practice, we...
Send us a text 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 possibility of getting it wrong. In this eighth episode in my Habit Series, I’m inviting you to practice a simple but powerful habit: trying something new. Not restarting a habit you’ve tried before, but stepping into something unfamiliar on ...
Send us a text 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 today’s Habit Series, I’ve invited my friend Christa Hutchins (host of Just One Simple Thing podcast) to share three simple ways to manage your email without turning it into a whole new project. Because when your inbox is a mess, it impacts everyt...
Send us a text 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 exhausted, foggy, short-tempered, and running on fumes most days. In this mini episode of the Habits Series, I’m talking about sleep hygiene and why better sleep isn’t a luxury for later, but a foundational habit for women who are trying to do t...
Send us a text 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 episode of the Habits Series, I’m talking about the habit of weekly planning and why it matters, especially if you already have a full life along with a God-shaped dream that hasn’t had much room to breathe. I share how weekly planning has helped m...
Send us a text 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 responsibilities with already limited energy. Who has time to go for a walk? In this mini episode of the Habits Series, I’m talking about why daily movement matters and how to approach it with grace, and consistency. I share honestly about why...
Send us a text 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 follow but because of the inherent value of working from rest rather than for it. For years, I treated rest as a burden, something I gave in to after pushing myself too hard. But a simple biblical insight shared by a friend shifted everyth...
Send us a text 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 Bible reading habit, even in busy or demanding seasons of life. Learn why consistency matters more than length, how daily time in God’s Word shapes our faith and identity, and a 15-minute practice that has helped me stay grounded in God’s truth over t...
Send us a text 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, doable habits matter more than big goals when it comes to finding the courage and confidence to pursue a God-shaped dream. You’ll hear why habits work even when they feel unrelated to your dream, how habits are different from New Year’s resolut...
Send us a text 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 taught me about identity and rest, and how God met me in a quieter season. I also share what’s changing in Season 14 and what you can expect as the show returns with a renewed focus on simple habits, faithful steps, and pursuing God-shaped drea...
Send a text Ep 350 show notes are here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/350 Ever considered launching a ministry or publishing a Bible study from your personal story? Julie Fowler knows what it’s like to step out with a dream that feels bigger than you. After walking through years of infertility and loss, her pain turned into purpose as she built the ministry she needed in that season. Now, 25 years later, she’s published her curriculum as men’s and women’s Bible studies for people w...
Send a text Ep 349 show notes are here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/349 Have you ever had a quiet nudge from God but felt unsure about where it might lead? That’s where Julie Fowler found herself 25 years ago. In the middle of grief and loss, with more questions than answers, she said a simple yes to starting something she needed: a community of support and a space to hold the heartache of infertility, miscarriage, and infant loss. What began as a few women gathering at church has grow...
Send us a text Ep 348 show notes are here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/348 Has your dream been sitting on the shelf all summer? As the school year approaches and routines shift, it’s the perfect time to reconnect with the God-shaped dream on your heart. But after months of being in “mom mode” (or simply navigating a busy season), picking that dream back up can feel overwhelming. Where do you even begin? This episode will help you focus on five intentional steps you can take to r...
Send a text Ep 347 show notes are here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/347 What if the pressure to “do it right” is actually keeping you from doing it at all? Samantha Wells returns to the podcast, in part two, with the real story behind writing her first Bible study and the internal battle she faced along the way. From perfectionism and doubt to a two-year wrestle with the “big idea,” Samantha opens up about what it really took to move her God-shaped dream from concept to completion. Tog...
Send a text Ep 346 show notes are here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/346 What if the very thing that makes your dream feel different is the reason God gave it to you? Samantha Wells is a writer, speaker, and Bible teacher with a deep love for Scripture and a heart for drawing women into comprehending God’s restorative work in the world. In this episode, she shares how she stepped out in faith to write a Bible study on the book of Nehemiah, not as a leadership guide or wall-building blue...
Send a text Ep 345 show notes are here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/345 Have you ever lost your confidence just as you were about to take a big risk? It’s not your imagination. That wave of self-doubt, discouragement, or distraction is more than a bad day—it’s creative resistance. Understanding where it comes from (and how to respond) could be the difference between quitting and persevering. This episode explores the spiritual reality of creative resistance—what it looks like, why it s...
Send us a text Ep 344 show notes are here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/344 What if the people who love you aren’t cheerleaders for your dream? When God gives you a big dream, you want to talk about it! But what if you shared your heart with someone close to you only to be met with confusion, criticism, or silence? It’s deeply discouraging when your people don’t get it. But is their response a reflection of your qualifications or the validity of your dream, or is there something e...
Send a text Ep 343 show notes are here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/343 What if the dream God gave you is already growing—just in a direction you didn’t expect? In part 2 of my conversation with Andrea Olson, we explore how God often uses our past experiences, natural wiring, and even disappointments to shape something new in our calling. Andrea shares how a quiet season of listening uncovered a shift in her work, revealing a new mission to equip faith-driven entrepreneurs—something He...
Send a text Ep 342 show notes are here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/342 What if your dream doesn't unfold the way you expected? If you've ever faced a detour or disappointment in your pursuit of a passion project, this conversation will speak straight to your heart. This week, I’m joined by worship leader, songwriter, and accidental entrepreneur Andrea Olson, founder of Overflow Worship. Andrea opens up about the evolution of her God-shaped dream—from music ministry to equipping worshi...
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Ok I love this episode! “Develop a way of life” the process...