If you’ve wondered whether you’ve missed your chance to pursue a dream, this conversation offers a much-needed perspective shift. God’s calling on your life transcends age because wisdom and experience are assets, not hindrances. In this episode with Heather Creekmore, we talk about managing the fear of not feeling qualified, shifting into a biblical perspective on growing old, and fighting the thoughts and insecurities that keep your dream hidden.
303 || How to Re-Energize Your Faith through the Practice of Wonder || Jen Weaver
Are you afraid of what God might do with your dream? If fear has been a driving force in your dream (or lack thereof), it’s time to go deeper in your faith. Jen Weaver shares in this episode about how to manage the fear of not feeling qualified for the dream God has given you. Rather than quit when you hit a fear roadblock, you can choose to walk through your fear with God—who is the antidote to fear—so He can re-energize your faith with the truth of His Word.
302 || [Solo] How to Persevere When You Want to Quit Your Dream || Merritt Onsa
What do you do when a dream feels too hard? Somewhere along the journey of saying “yes” to a God-shaped dream you’ll probably ask yourself why you did that. It’s daunting to attempt something you’ve never done before like writing a book, starting a business, or taking the risk of putting your creative work into the world. I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to quit, but I also don’t want you to miss out on the hope that can be found while you’re muddling through the messy middle.
301 || Why Dreaming Big Is a Trust-Builder for Your Faith || Rachel Bates
Is there a God-nudge you’ve been ignoring? Rachel Bates never imagined starting a nonprofit; in fact, her current role leading the Beauties ministry feels outside of her comfort zone and skill set on most days. But she said ‘yes’ anyway, because the ministry has touched Rachel’s life and the faith of her young daughter so deeply. She couldn’t ignore the Spirit’s prompting to grow the ministry to reach girls beyond her home community—or that she was the one to begin this work.
300 || How to Not Miss God’s Purpose for Your Life || Tracey Gates
Is it possible to miss God’s plan? As the years went by raising children and working odd jobs, Tracey Gates felt there was more she could do with her skills and gifts. She thought maybe she would write a book one day, but she had no idea how to begin or what her topic would be. So she set aside that dream for another time. Occasionally it would come up in conversation with a friend or her spouse but there was never enough clarity to move forward. By age 50, though, she began to wonder if she’d totally missed what God had planned for her.
299 || How an Unexpected Layoff Brought a Dream to Life || Shadia Hrichi
What are you waiting on God to do? Sometimes we are so busy looking ahead for an answer to prayer or a change in circumstance that we miss out on what He’s doing right in front of us. Today’s guest, Shadia Hrichi, shares the unexpected twist in her career journey and how it revealed her God-shaped dream. You’ll learn about trusting God when progress is slow, how downtime brings you closer to the Lord, and the vital role of wise mentors in your life and dreams.
298 || How to Start out Your Dream in Alignment with God || Polly Payne
How do you know if you’re following God’s plan for your dream? I hear this question often from listeners and it’s why I’m honored to bring back the inspiring Polly Payne of Horacio Printing to share her heart for putting structure around how we begin to plan and pursue our dreams (anytime, not just at the new year). We talk about how to nurture your weekly schedule and make space for a dream, as well as how to set goals and intentions that stick.
297 || How to Overcome Fear and Take Leaps of Faith Toward a Dream || Polly Payne
Have you ever felt unqualified for the dream God has given you? You are not alone. Polly Payne shares how she learned the value of her creative nature, given by the Creator, and how He transitioned her out of a career in corporate advertising to use her gifts for a ministry and business that would glorify God and serve His people. You’ll learn about the challenges, strategies, and faith journey in her career shift, how she’s sharing her knowledge and experience with other creators, and the profound effect of surrendering our dreams and their outcomes to God's control.
[Bonus] How to Build Habits That Nurture Your Dreams All Year Long || Merritt Onsa
296 || [Solo] The Guaranteed Result of Sharing Your Secret Dream Out Loud || Merritt Onsa
How do you commit to a dream if you’ve felt too scared to share it out loud? In this episode for Christian women with a big dream, we explore the importance of speaking your dream out loud, even if it sounds discombobulated or feels uncomfortable, how to use your creativity to bring your dream out of hiding, and a simple challenge to help you get comfortable and find the words you want to use to talk about the dream.
295 || [Solo] Two Ingredients You Need Before Stepping into a Unique Calling || Merritt Onsa
How important are prayer and intimacy with God to our dreams? This solo episode is all about the significance of establishing a firm foundation of prayer and intimacy with God as (or before!) you step into your unique calling from Him. We explore prayer as a foundational practice that’s essential for every devoted dreamer, the importance of developing a close relationship with God, and how prayer can transform your approach to achieving your dreams.
294 || [Solo] The Truth About Pursuing a Big Dream Your Way || Merritt Onsa
How can we learn to surrender our dreams and trust God for the outcome? In this week’s solo episode, we explore the pitfalls of holding tightly to a specific vision for your dream, how to start listening for God’s voice and guidance on the journey, and embracing surrender by letting go of control and trusting God's plan. If you're ready to step boldly into God's path for your dream, hit play and join me on this empowering journey.
293 || [Solo] How to Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed by What You Don’t Know || Merritt Onsa
Is it possible to avoid overwhelm when there’s so much more to learn? This episode is about taking inventory of what you already have on hand to support your dream. I have two steps you can take and one commitment you can make that will shift your perspective on what it takes to pursue your God-shaped dream. You’ll consider the gifts God has given you, distractions you need to remove, and how to develop a discerning approach to learning and growth as you take steps in this journey.
292 || [Solo] How to Resist Your Dream Taking Over Your Life || Merritt Onsa
What does the day-to-day of your dream look like? Imagine you could see ten years into the future of your God-shaped dream. What would an “ideal day” in the life of your dream be like? How would you be spending your time? And how do you answer these questions if you have no idea what your dream is to begin with? This episode is about putting intentionality around HOW you will pursue your dream and doing so in a way that it doesn’t take over your life or your relationships.
291 || How Brain Science and Creativity Can Grow Our Faith || Amy Pierson
What does creativity have to do with spiritual transformation? Amy Pierson opens up in this episode about her exploration of creativity and neuroscience in the context of faith. Through this conversation, you’ll learn: how neurotheology deepens our understanding of faith and relationship with Christ, practical steps to identify your personal lament and find your unique purpose, and how to overcome creative blocks and connect with your creativity in a meaningful way.
290 || [PodSwap] Clarifying Your Message One Stage at a Time || with Host Heather Sager
How has self-doubt or perfectionism blocked your progress? In a recent interview with my speaking coach Heather Sager, host of the Hint of Hustle Podcast, we talk about learning to clearly communicate your dream, the power of employing consistent action as your weapon in the battle with perfectionism, and how to step into a leadership role so that you truly can begin to serve others who need what you are creating.
289 || [PodSwap] Why You’ll Always Feel a Little Afraid and That’s a Good Thing || with Host Anne Watson
Have you ever felt afraid when starting to step into a dream? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, most women I’ve spoken to affirm that fear is a regular part of pursuing a dream. In my recent interview with Anne Watson, host of the Swayology Podcast, we have the most beautiful conversation about navigating those feelings without giving up.
288 || [PodSwap] How Do You Start to Dream Big After Divorce? || with Host Joy Bartholomew
I recently talked with Joy Bartholomew, host of The Divorce Confidante Podcast, about how to consider dreams during a life transition like divorce. Whether or not you’ve experienced divorce, you’ve likely lived through seasons where you wondered if you had anything to give to a dream. In this episode you’ll learn how to begin the process of realizing your dreams, how to determine if you're ready to start, and the beautiful transformations that come when you begin to live into your authentic purpose.
287 || [Solo] Find Your Momentum: The 4 Phases of Chasing a Creative Dream || Merritt Onsa
What strategies can help you stay consistent in pursuing a God-shaped dream? In this episode, I share behind-the-scenes tactics I used to start and manage a podcast even though I didn’t know what I was doing, had technical barriers, limited time, and a tiny budget. We cover the ways specific, attainable goals can help tamp down the emotional rollercoaster and what to do when you’re not making any progress on a dream.
286 || [Solo] Top 3 Traps Standing in the Way of Your God-Given Purpose || Merritt Onsa
Seeking clarity and confidence for your dream? Time, money, energy, and having little kids at home top the list of reasons women put their dreams on hold. But I’ve discovered 3 traps that are an even greater threat because we don’t recognize their power. In this solo episode you’ll learn about the transformative power of community in pursuing a God-shaped dream, how to recognize and overcome common obstacles to our dreams, who the Dreamer Lab is for, and how you can join us this fall!