43. You Are More Than What You Hold: A Conversation on Identity, Waiting & Becoming with Dawn Stephens

What happens when God removes the very thing you thought defined you?In this week’s episode of the Not Just Waiting Podcast, I sat down with author, former teacher, and publisher Dawn Stephens for one of the most honest and hope-filled conversations about identity, purpose, and becoming that I’ve had in a long time.Through the beautiful metaphor of pottery and children’s books, Dawn shares how God walked her through seasons of being filled, emptied, pruned, stretched, and rebuilt. From teaching to running a school, becoming an author, experiencing burnout, and stepping into publishing, Dawn reminds us that God never wastes a season — even the ones that feel hidden or confusing.We talked about:Why we often tie our identity to what we “hold”The danger of defining ourselves by roles, titles, or productivityWhat it means to become a “fruit pot”How waiting seasons prepare us for what’s nextWhy God sometimes allows cracks instead of fixing themBurnout, striving, and learning to restHow God uses every season of your storyThis conversation felt like sitting down with a friend who gently reminds you that becoming takes time — and that God is still forming something beautiful in the in-between.If you’ve ever felt emptied, overlooked, behind, or unsure of who you are in this season, I think this episode will deeply encourage you.Connect with Dawn:Website: dawnstephensbooks.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DawnStephensBooks/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawnstephensbooks/Twitter: https://x.com/dawnstephens https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnstephens/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dawn_stephens_booksPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/DawnStephensBooks/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DawnStephensBooks  Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement in their waiting season.