Is this dream going to be worth the effort?
Maybe you’ve spent hours designing Canva graphics, rewriting emails, or obsessing over what people might think—without ever taking a real step forward. You wonder if your dream is even valid or if you’re just not cut out for this. The truth is, you’re not failing. You’re distracted. And in this episode, we’re naming the lies that are stealing your focus away from what God is calling you to do.
IF YOU’VE EVER WONDERED WHY YOU CAN’T SEEM TO MAKE PROGRESS ON YOUR DREAM, THIS IS THE EPISODE FOR YOU!
The three lies I’m talking about today—perfectionism, reputation, and platform—don’t just delay your dream. They discourage you from ever starting. But God has something better for you. He’s calling you into freedom from the pressure you’ve put on yourself so you can refocus on His purposes for your life.
In this episode you’ll learn:
🎯 What’s really driving your perfectionism and how to break free,
🙈 Why playing small protects your comfort but sidelines your calling, and
🕯️ How quiet obedience lays the groundwork for lasting influence.
This episode is for the woman who’s tired of overthinking and ready to take faithful steps forward. In it you’ll hear about Dreamers Unleashed, my 7-week course, coming this summer, to help you overcome perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and fear so you can freely walk in your God-given identity and purpose.
Whether you’re just now beginning to dream or starting to take steps, this episode will remind you of what’s true: God doesn’t need your polish or popularity. He’s already called you, and He will equip you as you go.
If one of these three lies—perfectionism, reputation, and platform—has been loud in your life, I’d love to hear from you. DM me on Instagram or message me here and don’t forget to join the Dreamers Unleashed waitlist here. Let’s do this together.
Throughout this month, we’re exploring how to keep our focus on Christ amidst distractions and setbacks. So press play on the episode and let’s get started.
CONNECT WITH MERRITT:
Website || Facebook || Instagram || Dreamers Unleashed Waitlist
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Here are some additional episodes with more food for thought on the topic of purpose:
Ep 329: The Truth About Your Unique Purpose as a Christian Apple | Spotify
Ep 276: Find Your Purpose: 12 Steps to Uncover a God-Given Dream Apple | Spotify
Ep 286: Top 3 Traps Standing in the Way of Your God-Given Purpose Apple | Spotify
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Scripture:
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should
go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
~ Exodus 3:11 (ESV)
But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past
or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”
But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”
~ Exodus 4:10, 13 (ESV)
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
~ Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.
And one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
~ Luke 16:10 (ESV)
Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
~ Proverbs 16:3 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
~ Romans 8:1 (ESV)
PIN IT FOR LATER:
The unedited transcript for this episode of The Devoted Dreamers Podcast follows:
Have you ever felt that quiet little nudge from God, that idea in your heart towards something meaningful? Maybe you'd call it a dream or a calling or a purpose. It's there. But instead of doing something about it, taking action that would move it forward, you got stuck second-guessing yourself.
Or maybe you've even spent a bunch of time creating mind maps or vision boards or making pretty things in Canva to help you conceptualize this idea that really needs some legs to it.
But you're constantly wondering what others might think if you actually did this, or whether the things that you're doing to get started are the right things, or even questioning if you have what it takes.
You're not alone, my friend, and you are not failing. You're distracted. And today we're going to name the lies behind that distraction so you can finally refocus on what matters: Christ and the purpose he gave you.
I'm here to help you ditch the doubt and start moving forward with clarity, courage and deep dependence on God.
You're listening to episode 336 of the Devoted Dreamers podcast and today we're talking about three lies distracting you from God's purposes in your life.
In case you're new here, I'm your host, Merritt Onsa, a Christian life coach. I'm kind of like the Joanna Gaines for women of faith who have big dreams about how God might reorder the second half of your life so you can use your gifts and life experiences to usher in beauty, redemption, healing, and service to others.
It's not a redesign of your home that we're working on. It's a brand-new way to live: in freedom. Free from fear, free from second-guessing yourself all the time, and free from the lies that the enemy has used to keep you quiet and playing small in the past.
Isn't it about time more of us who believe in Christ started living that way?
I'm on a mission to engage 10,000 women worldwide to start taking intentional and purposeful steps that will bring their God-shaped dreams to life. If you believe in Jesus and you see his work in your life and you're aware that you've been given gifts, talents, and a life story that could serve and benefit others, maybe you're among those 10,000.
I hope that you are, because you're here listening to a podcast about dreams. Maybe you're looking for a chance to see if your dream has legs. You want to try it on for size and figure out if it's possible. You want to be inspired and encouraged that there's hope for what you've been dreaming all these years. Maybe you've been too fearful in the past, or someone dashed your dreams with a comment that hit too close to home. Or you just haven't had time to figure out how to proceed. Well, my friend, this is your time.
This is your space. If you have big ideas for how God could use the gifts he's given you and the years of your life that remain, and you have a dream that would serve others, let's figure out how to turn that heartfelt, hidden dream into real, actionable plans with impact for God's kingdom work in the world.
LIE #1:
Okay, let's start by tackling lie number one: You have to get it perfect first.
Perfectionism shows up in sneaky ways, like spending hours designing something in Canva that you never end up sharing, or writing and rewriting that email, or worrying so much about being misunderstood, so you keep your thoughts and ideas to yourself. But what perfectionism does is it keeps you in prep mode instead of acting with purpose. It halts you. It stops your dream from ever seeing the light of day.
Nowhere in scripture does God ask for polish. He invites us into faith while we were still sinners. He invites us into this gift of his perfection, not ours, because he knows even better than we do, that perfection for us is impossible, that he's the only one that's perfect.
And if you struggle with this, you are not alone. I talk with women day after day after day, constantly battling challenges with perfectionism that's keeping things hidden instead of taking the risk of putting something out in the world.
And the best example I find of this in Scripture is in Exodus.
You probably know the story: when God tells Moses that he's heard the cry of his people in Egypt, that he's seen their misery and that he has come to rescue them. He says he's going to send Moses to Pharaoh to bring God's people out of Egypt.
What does Moses say? Do you remember? This happens first at the burning bush. Moses says, Who am I? That I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt.
Now, there's not a lot of context as to why Moses would say that, but a little bit later on. So that was in chapter 3:11. A little bit later on, Moses asks, what if they don't believe me or listen to me? You know, I'm not going to be able to do this. I can't do this perfect.
And then God gives him these very specific signs to prove that this message is from God. And what does Moses say in Exodus 4:10? He says, Pardon your servant, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.
And he brings this up at least one, maybe two more times like, I am just not this great public speaker, Lord. Why would you send me? And God says, now go. I will help you speak and will teach you what to say. He's even gonna teach him, help him along the way. And Moses still says, please send someone else in chapter 4:13.
This is painful, but we get caught up in perfectionism as well. Like God, please don't send me until whatever I want to put out into the world isn't going to be criticized. If that perfectionism struggle hits close to home for you, you need to hear this. I once heard a coach say, perfectionism is a survival strategy for avoiding judgment and criticism. Ouch.
As if doing everything perfect would save us from pain. But we know it doesn't work that way. And because I care about you and your God-shaped dream so much, I've created something to help.
It's called Dreamers Unleashed. This is a live course and it's a group coaching experience where we tackle the lies that keep you stuck, especially perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and trying to prove to yourself that you have what it takes. We open scripture, reflect deeply on what God's word says about us and about the dreams he's given us. And we take faith-filled steps together inside Dreamers Unleashed.
You're going to learn to trust God with the next step in your dream, even if it feels scary, and start walking in your God given identity with clarity and confidence.
I want you to join us in June. I haven't offered this course for two years, but the doors are going to open again in May and space is limited, so join the wait list now at Merrittonsa.com/impostersyndrome. Don't let perfectionism have a hold on your life and your dream or keep you from the passionate, purposeful work that God has intended for you.
LIE #2:
Okay, lie number two: Reputation. It's this fear of man. I have to prove myself.
And you might never say it that way, but it's something that a lot of us think. It goes through our minds: What are people going to think of me if I do this thing?
It may even go back as far as high school or family members. People who know me well, who've known me for a long time. What if they're incredibly surprised at this idea that I want to put out into the world?
And because our lives are so public, often if we're engaged on social media, it feels scary to go out on a limb and do something that others might think, oh, that seems really out of character for her. Or oh, I had no idea she would be even remotely interested in something like that. And sometimes this challenge of “What will people think?” is wrapped up in this fear of failing in front of everyone. What will they think then?
So this is a trap. It's a focus. It's a lie about reputation. And this lie convinces you that you need to seek the approval of people rather than God. Like you can't take the next step without their approval or certainty that it's not going to fail.
Galatians 1:10, I'm going to read from the NIV, says, Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Of course, we know that human approval has nothing on the approval of Christ. And that approval, if Christ is our Savior, it is already ours. God sees His Son when He looks at us. But this sneaky lie keeps trying to poke its little head into our dreams and keeps them in hiding.
LIE #3:
You need a platform, like a big audience, to make an impact. If your follower count on social media isn't where you'd like it to be, this can be a trap. Maybe it's that thought:
If I could only get to 500 or only get to a thousand or two thousand, then you will have arrived. Then you will have enough of a following that will make it feel worth it to go into this big effort of pursuing this God-shaped dream.
And then whether it's 500, 2000 or 10,000, you spend hours on a post that you think is going to go well. You've tweaked every single word in that caption 16 times. (Maybe there's a little perfectionism here in this lie as well.) And it gets three likes. And you think, was it worth it? Is it worth it for that? (No, I'll tell you, it's not really worth it for that.)
But the truth is, God values our obedience over our platform, over our reach, over the number of people that we can touch with our God shaped dream.
Think about it: Even Jesus retreated from the crowds for spaces of rest. He spent time with the small group of the 12 disciples and the even smaller group of the men who were closest to him. It is not about numbers.
In fact, Jesus fed the 5,000, but he's not calling us to that. Faithfulness in the small things is often where our kingdom impact begins.
Luke 16:10 in the ESV says, One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much. And one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much so needing a big platform to start on a dream. It's a lie.
Think about the impact of some of the tiniest actions, like when you greet someone on the street or in the grocery store with a big smile and a warm hello. Or you pause to give your attention to a child admiring her artwork, or her dance twirl, or her cartwheels. Or if you're listening to this in April very soon her jumping into the swimming pool and swimming a lap. Or when you bring dinner to a couple who's just brought home their very first brand-new baby. Big isn't the standard that we should seek to follow.
My friend, these lies: perfectionism, reputation, platform. They are distractions from the purposeful work that God has put on your heart.
And here's my gift to you today for these three:
First, it's to know you're not the only one that struggles with this, and secondly, that you do have the power to redirect your focus.
So here's some examples of what you could do when you find yourself stuck in perfectionism, reputation, or platform that's distracting you from pursuing the purpose God's given you.
Number one, pause and pray.
Ask God specifically, what have I made this dream about that it is not supposed to be, or that it's not aligned with your purposes? Where am I putting energy that is not part of this calling?
Number two, take a small step. Action is worth its weight in gold. So share it with somebody. It's okay if you start with somebody safe that you think would be excited or supportive of you. You don't have to go share it with strangers or people who don't know you or someone you went to high school with. Just say it out loud. Don't perfect it. Don't spend hours reciting the words. Just get it out and be humble about it. Just say, This is just something I'm thinking about or I'm working on, or I'm trying to wrap my mind around something I feel like God's given me. Just start in a small way with an honest, humble conversation.
And then third, and this is super powerful, speak scripture over the lie.
So you could choose one verse for each of those lies, perfectionism, reputation, or platform. You could pick a verse that specifically is suited for either one of those, or even just start with Proverbs 16:3, Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established. Commit my work to the Lord and my plans will be established.
I love to practice verses like these with my kids in the car on the way to and from school. Just these short little ones. Like to get that truth into your mind and then just continue to pause and pray over it. To take small little steps and have honest, humble conversations about your dream and remember what is actually true.
My friend, these distractions are not just habits.
They are spiritual tactics meant to keep you stuck. Like there is actually a strategy behind these by you-know-who, the enemy. But you are not powerless. You can recognize the lies. You can name them and replace them with God's truth.
If you've listened to this and there is one that is particularly bothersome to you or you are realizing this has really kept me from action, would you send me a DM on Facebook or Instagram? You can even send me an email from my website, Merrittonsa.com I would love to hear the lie that has been the loudest in your mind lately.
And then don't forget to join the Dreamers Unleashed waitlist so that you can be the first to know when all the information is out about that course. It's Merrittonsa.com/impostersyndrome and we're gonna walk through this together and find freedom from the lies and the distractions.
Let me pray for you before we go:
Father, would you give us eyes to see what is distracting us from the purpose you've put on our hearts, from the gifts that you've given us and the ways that you've inspired us to use those gifts?
I pray specifically over the woman hearing my voice right now. She is your daughter. She is your precious child. You love her with an everlasting love and there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. And God, I ask that you would remind her of your truth, that you would bring it to mind whenever perfectionism, reputation or platform start to sneak in, whenever the enemy wants to use those against her, against the good and the light that you have nurtured within her through your Holy Spirit, God, that he would not win these battles.
Lord, be with her, walk with her, encourage her with what is true about you and about Jesus and Lord, I pray that her dream and the people who are meant to receive light from it, that those things would come to happen in your timing, in your goodness, in your faithfulness, that it would be praiseworthy and it wouldn't matter what anybody else has to say about it.
Thank you so much for this sweet friend hearing my voice today. I lift her up to you in the precious and holy name of Jesus. Amen.
My friends, tune in every week. Like I said, this is going to be a weekly show this year. Invite your friends. Share this episode and mostly trust God’s guidance for the dream that He has given you.
Finally, Daughter of the King, you were made for a beautiful purpose. Your identity and security rest in him, as does your dream, because the Lord is good and his ways are always good. No weapon formed against you will prosper because you belong to Him.
Until next week, stay faithful, keep dreaming. And remember, trusting God with your next step doesn’t mean it isn’t going to be scary. It means taking the step anyway. That’s what faith is.
You are welcome here among women braving those scary steps in faith, knowing our dreams matter because they are His.
Until next time, I’m Merritt Onsa, your dream coach and sister in Christ walking by faith with you in the dream.
Have a great week.
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