JOEL OSTEEN: WELL, GOD
BLESS YOU.
IT'S A JOY TO COME INTO YOUR
HOMES AND IF YOU'RE EVER IN
OUR AREA, PLEASE STOP BY AND
BE A PART OF ONE OF OUR
SERVICES.
I PROMISE YOU, WE'LL MAKE YOU
FEEL RIGHT AT HOME.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY AND I HEARD
ABOUT THIS HUSBAND AND WIFE,
THEY HAD BEEN ARGUING, NOW
THEY WERE GIVING EACH OTHER
THE SILENT TREATMENT.
THE NEXT MORNING, THE MAN HAD
TO GET UP EARLY AND CATCH A
PLANE.
HE NEEDED HIS WIFE TO WAKE
HIM UP.
NOT WANTING TO BREAK THE
SILENCE, HE LEFT A NOTE ON
HER SIDE OF THE BED THAT
SAID, "PLEASE, WAKE ME UP AT
5 A.M."
HE GOT UP THE NEXT MORNING AT
8 O'CLOCK, MISSED HIS FLIGHT.
HE WAS SO UPSET.
HE WENT INTO FIND OUT WHY SHE
DIDN'T WAKE HIM UP.
THERE WAS A NOTE ON HIS SIDE
OF THE BED, IT SAID, "WAKE
UP, IT'S 5."
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT, THE PROMISE IS COMING.
WE ALL HAVE THINGS WE'RE
BELIEVING FOR, DREAMS GOD PUT
IN OUR HEART, PROBLEMS TO
TURN AROUND, BUT WHEN IT'S
BEEN SO LONG AND WE'VE MADE
MISTAKES, PEOPLE HAVE COME
AGAINST US, ALL THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SAY, IF IT WAS
GOING TO HAPPEN, IT WOULD
HAVE HAPPENED BY NOW.
IT'S EASY TO GET DISCOURAGED
AND ACCEPT THAT IT'S NEVER
GOING TO WORK OUT BUT WHAT
GOD PROMISED YOU DOESN'T HAVE
AN EXPIRATION DATE.
JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE GIVEN UP
ON IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT GOD
HAS GIVEN UP.
YOU MAY HAVE DONE THINGS THAT
SHOULD KEEP YOUR DREAM FROM
COMING TO PASS.
YOU GOT OFF COURSE, YOU DON'T
DESERVE IT, BUT GOD IS SO
MERCIFUL, HE'S ALREADY TAKEN
YOUR MISTAKES INTO ACCOUNT.
YOU MAY HAVE DELAYED IT FROM
HAPPENING, BUT YOU HAVEN'T
DENIED IT FROM HAPPENING.
THE PROMISE IS STILL COMING.
GOD IS SAYING, "DESPITE YOUR
MISTAKES, DESPITE THE
FAILURES, DESPITE THE DELAYS,
I'M STILL GOING TO BLESS YOU.
I'M STILL GOING TO HEAL YOU.
I'M STILL GOING TO BRING THAT
DREAM TO PASS."
BUT TOO OFTEN WE DISQUALIFY
OURSELVES.
WE THINK, "IT WOULD HAVE
HAPPENED IF I'D HAVE MADE
BETTER CHOICES, IF I'D
FINISHED SCHOOL, IF I'D NOT
GOT INVOLVED WITH THE WRONG
CROWD, IF I'D NOT WASTED
THOSE YEARS COMPROMISING,
THEN GOD WOULD BLESS ME, THEN
HE WOULD OPEN UP NEW DOORS."
THAT WOULD BE TRUE IF GOD WAS
LIKE US, IF HE JUDGE US BASED
ON OUR PERFORMANCE AND GAVE
US WHAT WE DESERVE, BUT GOD
IS NOT LIKE PEOPLE.
HE IS FULL OF MERCY.
HE DOESN'T HOLD OUR MISTAKES
AGAINST US.
HE DOESN'T CANCEL OUR DESTINY
BECAUSE WE GOT OFF COURSE.
GOD ALREADY KNEW EVERY WRONG
TURN WE WOULD TAKE, EVERY
MISTAKE WE WOULD MAKE, EVERY
FAILURE, EVERY WEAKNESS.
NOTHING YOU'VE DONE IS A
SURPRISE TO GOD.
NOTHING THAT'S HAPPENED TO
YOU HAS CAUGHT HIM OFF GUARD.
THE GOOD NEWS IS GOD HAS
MERCY FOR EVERY MISTAKE,
RESTORATION FOR EVERY
FAILURE, A NEW BEGINNING FOR
EVERY LOSS, A COMEBACK FOR
EVERY SETBACK.
WHAT HE'S PROMISED YOU IS
STILL ON THE WAY.
YOU DIDN'T MISS YOUR CHANCE.
YOU HAVEN'T FAILED TOO MANY
TIMES.
THAT DISAPPOINTMENT DIDN'T
STOP GOD'S PLAN.
HE'S STILL GOING TO SHOW YOU
FAVOR.
IT MAY SEEM UNLIKELY.
THE MEDICAL REPORT SAYS,
"LEARN TO LIVE WITH THE
SICKNESS.
IT WILL NEVER CHANGE.
IT'S PERMANENT."
GOD SAYS, "HEALING IS COMING,
WHOLENESS IS COMING.
I WILL RESTORE HEALTH BACK
INTO YOU."
YOU MAY NOT SEE HOW YOU COULD
EVER GET OUT OF DEBT.
NOBODY IN YOUR FAMILY HAS
EXCELLED, YOU CAN BE THE
FIRST.
GOD IS SAYING, "INCREASE IS
COMING.
YOU WILL LEND AND NOT BORROW.
WHAT YOU TOUCH WILL PROSPER
AND SUCCEED."
"WELL JOEL, I'M THE ONE THAT
GOT ME INTO THIS MESS.
IT'S MY OWN FAULT."
GOD IS THE ONE THAT'S GOING
TO BRING YOU OUT OF THAT
MESS.
QUIT BELIEVING THE LIES THAT
IT'S TOO LATE, THE PROBLEM IS
TOO BIG, YOU'VE MADE TOO MANY
MISTAKES.
GOD IS CALLED THE AUTHOR AND
THE FINISHER OF YOUR FAITH.
WHAT HE STARTED, HE'S GOING
TO FINISH.
THE DELAY DOESN'T MEAN IT'S
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
YOUR MISTAKES HAVEN'T CAUSED
GOD TO CHANGE HIS MIND.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES MAY LOOK
IMPOSSIBLE, BUT GOD HASN'T
RUN OUT OF OPTIONS.
YOU MAY NOT SEE A WAY, THAT'S
BECAUSE WE'RE NATURAL, GOD IS
SUPERNATURAL.
HE HAS WAYS WE'VE NEVER
THOUGHT OF.
HE'S NOT LIMITED BY YOUR JOB,
BY YOUR SALARY, BY A MEDICAL
REPORT, BY WHAT YOU DIDN'T
GET.
ONE TOUCH OF HIS FAVOR WILL
CATAPULT YOU TO THE NEXT
LEVEL.
ONE GOOD BREAK AND WHAT HE
PROMISED YOU WILL COME TO
PASS.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, GOD TOLD
ABRAHAM THAT HE AND HIS WIFE
SARAH WERE GOING TO HAVE A
BABY.
ABRAHAM WAS 75 YEARS OLD,
SARAH WAS 65.
THEY HAD BEEN MARRIED MANY
YEARS AND NOT HAD ANY
CHILDREN.
THIS SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE.
THEY WERE WAY TOO OLD.
SOMETIMES GOD WILL PUT
PROMISES IN YOUR HEART THAT
DON'T MAKE SENSE TO YOUR
MIND.
HE'LL PUT BIGGER THINGS IN
YOUR SPIRIT THAN YOU CAN
ACCOMPLISH ON YOUR OWN.
THE KEY IS TO LET THE SEED
TAKE ROOT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
HOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, ALL
YOU HAVE TO DO IS BELIEVE.
WELL, YEARS WENT BY AND THEY
DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGN OF A
BABY, SO THEY TRIED TO HELP
GOD OUT.
SARAH TOLD ABRAHAM TO SLEEP
WITH HER MAID HAGAR.
THEY HAD A SON THAT THEY
NAMED ISHMAEL, BUT HE WASN'T
THE PROMISED CHILD THAT'S
WHAT THE SCRIPTURE CALLS
WORKS OF THE FLESH, WHEN WE
TRY TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN IN
OUR OWN STRENGTH, OUR OWN
TIMING.
AND, OF COURSE, THEY LOVED
ISHMAEL, BUT HE WAS A
CONSTANT SOURCE OF CONFLICT.
SARAH GOD MAD AT ABRAHAM FOR
SLEEPING WITH HAGAR, EVEN
THOUGH IT WAS HER IDEA.
THAT BROUGHT STRIFE AND
DIVISION.
SHE FINALLY GAVE ABRAHAM AN
ULTIMATUM, "EITHER THAT LADY
IS LEAVING OR I'M LEAVING,
BUT I AM NOT STAYING HERE
WITH HAGAR AND HER SON."
ABRAHAM WAS TORN.
HE LOVED HIS ISHMAEL.
HAGAR HADN'T DONE ANYTHING
WRONG, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE
MUCH OF A CHOICE.
HE HAD TO SEND THEM OUT INTO
THE DESERT.
I WAS A BIG MESS, ALL KINDS
OF DYSFUNCTION.
FOR 13 YEARS, GOD WAS SILENT.
ABRAHAM DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.
I'M SURE THOUGHTS TOLD HIM,
"YOU BLEW IT, YOU MADE A BIG
MESS, YOU HAD A BABY WITH
ANOTHER WOMAN, NOW IT'S NEVER
GOING TO HAPPEN."
BUT JUST BECAUSE GOD IS
SILENT DOESN'T MEAN HE'S
GIVEN UP.
YOU MAY HAVE DELAYED IT, BUT
YOU DIDN'T DENY IT.
GOD HASN'T CHANGED HIS MIND.
WILL YOU TRUST HIM IN THE
SEASONS OF SILENCE WHEN EVERY
VOICE TELLS YOU, "IT'S NEVER
GOING TO HAPPEN, IT'S YOUR
OWN FAULT, YOU KNEW BETTER"?
YOU MAY NOT SEE ANYTHING
HAPPENING, BUT GOD IS STILL
WORKING.
WHAT HE PROMISED YOU IS STILL
ON THE WAY.
AFTER 13 YEARS OF SILENCE
WHEN ABRAHAM WAS 99, GENESIS
17 SAYS, "GOD SAID TO
ABRAHAM, 'I AM THE LORD GOD
ALMIGHTY.
YOU WILL BECOME A FATHER OF
MANY NATIONS.'"
AFTER ALL HIS
MISTAKES, ALL THE FAILURES,
ALL THE DYSFUNCTION, THE
FIRST THING GOD SAID TO HIM
IS, "YOU WILL BECOME A
FATHER."
HE REMINDED HIM OF THE
PROMISE.
HE WAS SAYING, "ABRAHAM, EVEN
THOUGH YOU BLEW IT, EVEN
THOUGH YOU MADE A BIG MESS,
THAT DIDN'T STOP MY PLAN.
I DIDN'T CHANGE MY MIND.
I'M STILL GOING TO DO WHAT I
SAID."
YOU WOULD THINK THE FIRST
THING GOD WOULD SAY WAS,
"ABRAHAM, I'M DISAPPOINTED IN
YOU.
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?
I'M GONNA FIND SOMEBODY ELSE
TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR DESTINY."
BUT GOD NEVER GIVES UP ON
YOU.
HE NEVER DISQUALIFIES YOU,
NOW QUIT DISQUALIFYING
YOURSELF.
YOU BLEW IT, JOIN THE CROWD,
WE ALL HAVE.
YOU MADE A BIG MISTAKE, WELL,
COME ON IN.
YOU'RE IN GOOD COMPANY.
THE ENEMY IS CALLED THE
ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN.
HE'LL REMIND YOU OF
EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE WRONG,
EVERY MISTAKE YOU'D MADE.
HE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO GO
THROUGH LIFE DOWN ON
YOURSELF, NO DREAMS, NO
PASSION, NO EXPECTANCY.
DON'T FALL INTO THAT TRAP.
AT 90 YEARS OLD, SARAH
CONCEIVED AND GAVE BIRTH TO A
SON.
THEY NAMED HIM ISAAC.
HE WAS THE PROMISED CHILD.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS IT
HAPPENED AT THE EXACT TIME
GOD SAID IT WOULD.
THAT TELLS ME GOD ALREADY
KNEW THEY WOULD MAKE THOSE
MISTAKES.
HE ALREADY KNEW THEY WOULD BE
IMPATIENT, HAVE THE FIRST
SON, AND GET INTO STRIFE.
ISAAC WAS BORN RIGHT ON
SCHEDULE, RIGHT WHEN GOD HAD
IT PLANNED.
ARE YOU BELIEVING LIES THAT
YOU'VE MISSED YOUR CHANCE,
YOU MADE TOO MANY POOR
CHOICES?
IF YOU'D HAVE BEEN MORE
DISCIPLINED, NOT HUNG AROUND
THOSE PEOPLE THAT PULLED YOU
DOWN, GOD ALREADY KNEW ABOUT
THAT.
WHAT HE PROMISED YOU IS RIGHT
ON SCHEDULE.
YOU DIDN'T MISS IT, IT'S
STILL IN YOUR FUTURE.
I TALKED TO AN OLDER
GENTLEMAN, HE HAD STRUGGLED
MOST OF HIS LIFE WITH DRUGS
AND ALCOHOL.
HE WAS RAISED IN A GOOD
FAMILY WITH A SINGLE-PARENT
MOTHER.
THEY WERE IN A ROUGH
ENVIRONMENT, AND HE GOT
INVOLVED WITH THE WRONG
CROWD.
HE'D GONE TO REHAB AGAIN AND
AGAIN THROUGH THE YEARS, AND
IT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE
BUT HE WOULD ALWAYS FALL
BACK.
HIS OWN THOUGHTS NOT ONLY
TOLD HIM HOW BAD HE WAS, BUT
PEOPLE AROUND HIM WERE
CONSTANTLY PUTTING HIM DOWN,
MAKING HIM FEEL LIKE A
FAILURE.
HE WAS SO DOWN ON HIMSELF, HE
DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO LIVE.
HE STARTED WATCHING OUR
PROGRAM.
HE SAID, "JOEL, EVERYBODY
TOLD ME HOW BAD I WAS, HOW I
WAS A FAILURE, HOW I HADN'T
MADE ANYTHING OUT OF MY LIFE,
BUT YOUR WERE THE FIRST ONE
TO TELL ME HOW GOOD I WAS,
HOW I WAS MADE IN THE IMAGE
OF GOD."
HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE TO
SPEAK FAITH INTO HIM AND TELL
HIM WHAT HE COULD BECOME.
WHEN HE HEARD ME SAY, "YOU
ARE A CHILD OF THE
MOST HIGH GOD,"
SOMETHING CAME ALIVE
ON THE INSIDE.
HE GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES,
SAID, "GOD, I MADE A MESS OF
MY LIFE, TRIED TO CLEAN IT UP
ON MY OWN, BUT I CAN'T DO
THIS BY MYSELF.
GOD, PLEASE HELP ME TO
CHANGE."
FROM THAT MOMENT ON, HE NEVER
HAD ANOTHER DESIRE FOR THE
DRUGS.
HE NEVER TOUCHED THE ALCOHOL
AGAIN.
TODAY, HE WORKS IN THE
PRISONS ENCOURAGING THE
INMATES THAT THEY TOO ARE A
CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD.
NOW, YOU MAY HAVE FAILED, BUT
YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE.
FAILURE IS AN EVENT, IT'S NOT
WHO YOU ARE.
YOU MAY HAVE AN ADDICTION,
BUT YOU ARE NOT AN ADDICT.
THAT'S WHAT YOU STRUGGLE
WITH.
THAT'S NOT WHO YOU ARE.
WHAT YOU DO MAY NOT ALWAYS BE
GOOD, BUT YOU ARE GOOD.
THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE
BREATHED LIFE INTO YOU.
LIKE THIS MAN, YOU MAY HAVE
GOTTEN OFF COURSE, YOU MAY
HAVE BROUGHT THE TROUBLE ON
YOURSELF, BUT GOD IS SAYING,
"I'M STILL GOING TO BLESS
YOU.
I'M STILL GOING TO FREE YOU.
I'M STILL GOING TO USE YOU TO
HELP OTHERS.
YOU'RE STILL GOING TO FULFILL
YOUR DESTINY."
JESUS SAID, "YOU'RE BLESSED
WHEN YOU'RE AT THE END OF
YOUR ROPE.
WITH LESS OF YOU, THERE'S
MORE OF GOD AND HIS RULE."
HIS RULE MEANS HIS FAVOR, HIS
HEALING, HIS FREEDOM.
ABRAHAM WAS AT THE END OF HIS
ROPE, NO WAY IN THE NATURAL,
BUT GOD SHOWED UP AND GAVE
HIM A BABY.
THIS MAN WAS AT THE END OF
HIS ROPE, ADDICTED FOR YEARS,
GOD SHOWED UP AND BROUGHT
FREEDOM.
YOU MAY BE IN A SITUATION
THAT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD, YOUR
HEALTH, YOUR FINANCES, A
RELATIONSHIP, A BUSINESS,
LOOKS LIKE AT THE END.
YOU DON'T SEE HOW IT COULD
EVER WORK OUT.
HAVE A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
WHEN YOU'RE AT THE END, IN A
SENSE, IT'S A BLESSING IN
DISGUISE.
YOU'RE IN PRIME POSITION FOR
GOD TO SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
GOD IS SAYING TO YOU WHAT HE
SAID TO ABRAHAM, "I AM THE
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHAT I
PROMISED YOU IS STILL ON THE
WAY.
THOSE DREAMS YOU'VE GIVEN UP
ON, THEY'RE ON THE WAY.
THAT HEALING YOU'RE PRAYING
ABOUT IS ON THE WAY.
THAT BABY YOU'RE BELIEVING
FOR IS ON THE WAY."
INSTEAD OF GOING AROUND DOWN
ON YOURSELF, DISCOURAGED,
TURN IT AROUND.
"FATHER, THANK YOU THAT YOU
ARE ALMIGHTY GOD, THAT YOUR
MERCY IS BIGGER THAN MY
MISTAKES, YOU'RE MORE
POWERFUL THAN THIS ADDICTION,
YOU'RE GREATER THAN THIS
SICKNESS, AND I MAY BE IN A
SEASON OF SILENCE.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW BUT, GOD,
I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING BEHIND
THE SCENES.
WHAT YOU PROMISED ME IS STILL
RIGHT ON SCHEDULE."
THINK ABOUT ABRAHAM, 99 YEARS
OLD, HE DIDN'T HAVE THE SEED
TO HAVE A BABY.
EVEN IF SARAH COULD SOMEHOW
CONCEIVE, EVEN IF HER WOMB
BECAME FERTILE, IT WOULDN'T
HAPPEN WITHOUT THE SEED.
HE COULD HAVE THOUGHT, "GOD,
I COULD BELIEVE WE COULD HAVE
A BABY IF I HAD THE SEED, BUT
THE PROBLEM IS I DON'T HAVE
WHAT I NEED.
I'M LACKING."
YOU MAY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE
LACKING IN SOME AREA, LACKING
TALENT, LACKING FINANCES,
LACKING SUPPORT, BUT GOD
KNOWS WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE.
HE KNOWS WHAT'S IN YOUR BANK
ACCOUNT.
HE KNOWS WHO'S NOT FOR YOU.
HE KNOWS WHAT THE MEDICAL
REPORT SAYS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS GOD IS GOING
TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT YOU DON'T
HAVE.
HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU THE
SEED.
THAT'S WHAT HE DID FOR
ABRAHAM, LITTLE ISAAC WAS
BORN.
IT'S INTERESTING, GOD COULD
HAVE CAUSED ABRAHAM TO HAVE A
BABY WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER,
WHEN HE HAD THE NATURAL
ABILITY, BUT GOD WAITED TILL
HE RAN OUT OF THE SEED.
AND SOMETIMES ON PURPOSE, GOD
WILL LET YOU RUN OUT OF WHAT
YOU NEED SO YOU'LL HAVE TO
DEPEND ON HIM WHERE YOUR ONLY
OPTION IS, "GOD, IF YOU DON'T
DO THIS, IT'S NOT GOING TO
HAPPEN.
IF YOU DON'T TURN MY CHILD
AROUND, IF YOU DON'T OPEN
THIS DOOR.
IF YOU DON'T HEAL MY BODY,
GOD, THEN I'M DONE."
THAT'S WHAT JESUS SAID WHEN
YOU COME TO THE END OF
YOURSELF ABILITY, THEN
THERE'S ROOM FOR GOD'S FAVOR,
THERE'S ROOM FOR HIM TO SHOW
OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
IF ABRAHAM WERE HERE TODAY,
HE WOULD TELL YOU DON'T LET
THE CIRCUMSTANCES FOOL YOU.
DON'T LET WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE
TALK YOU OUT OF IT.
DON'T LET YOUR MISTAKES, YOUR
FAILURES, THE DELAYS, THE
SEASONS OF SILENCE CONVINCE
YOU THAT IT'S NEVER GOING TO
HAPPEN.
THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY IS
ABOUT TO DO FOR YOU WHAT HE
DID FOR ABRAHAM.
HE'S GOING TO BLESS YOU IN
SPITE OF YOUR MISTAKES.
HE'S GOING TO PROMOTE YOU IN
SPITE OF THE ODDS BEING
AGAINST YOU.
HE'S GOING TO MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN THAT YOU DIDN'T
DESERVE.
YOU DIDN'T WORK FOR IT, YOU
DIDN'T EARN IT, IT'S JUST THE
GOODNESS OF GOD.
YEARS AGO, THIS BUSINESS
VENTURE CAME ACROSS MY PATH,
AND IT SEEMED LIKE A
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
OPPORTUNITY.
I WAS SO EXCITED, I DIDN'T
HAVE TO PRAY ABOUT IT, I
DIDN'T HAVE TO THINK TWICE, I
JUST SAID YES.
AND ALONG THE WAY AS WE
RESEARCHED IT MORE AND TALKED
WITH A FEW EXPERTS, THERE
WERE SEVERAL RED FLAGS AND
THINGS THAT DIDN'T PAN OUT,
BUT I WAS SO SET IN HAVING IT
MY WAY, I IGNORED IT, DIDN'T
PAY IT ANY ATTENTION.
WE SIGNED THE CONTRACT AND
GOT IT UP AND GOING, BUT IT
WASN'T WHAT I THOUGHT.
DIDN'T TAKE OFF THE WAY WE
HAD PLANNED.
THERE WERE SOME RESTRICTIONS
AND LIMITATIONS THAT WE
DIDN'T REALIZE.
IT WAS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE, A
BURDEN FINANCIALLY.
WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WAS
GOING TO TURN OUT.
I HAD THIS HUGE OBLIGATION.
I WAS OVER MY HEAD, AND IT
WAS NOBODY'S FAULT EXCEPT MY
OWN.
I KNEW GOD HAD PUT BIG THINGS
IN MY HEART BUT LIKE ABRAHAM,
I WAS IMPATIENT.
I TRIED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IN
MY OWN STRENGTH, AND THE
PSALMIST SAID THE ISRAELITES
DID NOT WAIT FOR GOD'S PLAN
TO UNFOLD.
IT'S EASY TO GET IN A HURRY,
TRY TO FORCE DOORS TO OPEN,
TRY TO MANIPULATE PEOPLE.
IF YOU PUSH HARD ENOUGH,
SOMETIMES GOD WILL LET YOU
OPEN A DOOR THAT HE HASN'T
ORDAINED.
HE'LL LET YOU GO DOWN A ROAD
THAT'S NOT HIS BEST PATH.
I'M ALL FOR TAKING RISKS,
GETTING OUT OF OUR COMFORT
ZONES, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO
STAY IN GOD'S TIMING.
LISTEN TO THAT STILL, SMALL,
VOICE ON THE INSIDE.
THAT OPPORTUNITY MAY BE RIGHT
FOR YOU BUT WHEN YOU FEEL THE
UNREST, IT MAY BE IT'S JUST
NOT THE RIGHT TIME.
ABRAHAM KNEW GOD PROMISED HIM
A BABY, BUT WHEN IT DIDN'T
HAPPEN ON HIS TIMETABLE AS
FAST AS HE THOUGHT IT SHOULD,
THAT'S WHEN THEY TRIED TO
HELP GOD OUT.
THIS BUSINESS VENTURE OF MINE
NEVER DID TAKE OFF, BUT
HERE'S HOW AMAZING GOD IS.
EVEN THOUGH I MADE THE MESS,
EVEN THOUGH I OVERRODE WHAT I
WAS FEELING, BROUGHT THE
TROUBLE ON MYSELF, GOD
SUPERNATURALLY TURNED IT
AROUND.
WE CAME OUT OF IT MUCH BETTER
THAN WE WENT INTO IT.
IT ENDED UP BEING A HUGE
BLESSING.
WHAT AM I SAYING?
GOD TOOK MY MISTAKE AND
TURNED IT INTO A MIRACLE.
THAT'S THE MERCY OF GOD.
WHEN WE DON'T DESERVE IT, WE
GOT OFF COURSE, WE GOT IN A
HURRY, GOD SAYS, "I'M STILL
GOING TO BLESS YOU.
I'M STILL GOING TO FAVOR YOU.
I'M STILL GOING TO GET YOU TO
WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE."
QUIT BELIEVING THOSE LIES
THAT, "YOU CAN'T ACCOMPLISH
YOUR DREAMS.
LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
YOU'LL NEVER MEET THE RIGHT
PERSON, NEVER GET OUT OF GET.
YOU MADE TOO MANY POOR
CHOICES."
WHAT GOD PROMISED YOU IS
STILL ON THE WAY.
YOU MAY HAVE DELAYED IT, BUT
YOU DIDN'T DENY IT.
IT'S STILL ON THE SCHEDULE.
START BELIEVING AGAIN.
START DREAMING AGAIN.
START MAKING PLANS FOR WHAT
YOU'VE GIVEN UP ON.
I MET A COUPLE THAT HAD BEEN
TRYING TO HAVE A BABY FOR 11
YEARS.
THEY CAME DOWN FOR PRAYER AND
THE YOUNG LADY WAS WEEPING
AND WEEPING.
SHE WANTED A BABY SO BADLY,
BUT ALL THE MEDICAL REPORTS
SAID THERE WAS NO WAY.
SHE HAD TAKEN THE FERTILITY
TREATMENTS.
THEY'D DONE EVERYTHING THEY
COULD IN THE NATURAL WITH NO
SUCCESS.
BUT AGAINST ALL ODDS, THE
YOUNG LADY CONCEIVED.
THEY CAME BACK LAST WEEK TO
DEDICATE THEIR BEAUTIFUL BABY
DAUGHTER.
MEDICALLY SPEAKING, IT WAS
IMPOSSIBLE, BUT WHEN THE LORD
GOD ALMIGHTY SHOWS UP WHAT'S
IMPOSSIBLE BECOMES POSSIBLE,
WHAT HE'S DESTINED FOR YOUR
LIFE WILL COME TO PASS.
THE LAST TIME I SAW HER,
YEARS BEFORE, SHE WAS WEEPING
WITH TEARS OF SADNESS, SO
HEARTBROKEN.
THIS TIME SHE WAS WEEPING
WITH TEARS OF JOY, SO
OVERWHELMED AT GOD'S
GOODNESS.
YOU MAY HAVE SHED SOME TEARS
OF SADNESS OVER WHAT HASN'T
WORKED OUT, DREAMS THAT
HAVEN'T COME TO PASS,
DISAPPOINTMENTS, LOSS THAT
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
LIKE WITH HER, GOD IS GOING
TO TURN YOUR MOURNING INTO
DANCING.
THOSE TEARS OF SADNESS, INTO
TEARS OF JOY.
MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED YET,
BUT IT'S NOT OVER.
GOD HAS THE FINAL SAY.
THE PSALMIST SAID, "WEEPING
MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT, BUT
JOY COMES IN THE MORNING."
YOUR MORNING IS COMING.
YOU BABY IS COMING.
YOUR HEALING IS COMING.
YOUR SPOUSE IS COMING.
YOUR BREAKTHROUGH IS COMING.
WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT'S GONNA
BE MORE REWARDING, MORE
FULFILLING, BETTER THAN
YOU'VE EVER IMAGINED.
MOSES WAS BORN INTO A HEBREW
FAMILY, BUT HE WAS RAISED BY
EGYPTIANS.
AS A YOUNG MAN, GOD GAVE HIM
A DREAM THAT HE WOULD DELIVER
THE ISRAELITES OUT OF SLAVERY
IN EGYPT.
ONE DAY HE SAW AN EGYPTIAN
FOREMAN MISTREATING A HEBREW
SLAVE.
HE DIDN'T THINK ANYONE WAS
WATCHING, HE KILLED THE MAN.
HE HAD GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT
HE GOT OUT OF GOD'S TIMING.
HE DIDN'T WAIT FOR THE PLAN
TO UNFOLD.
SOMEONE SAW HIM, HE HAD TO
RUN FOR HIS LIFE.
HE SPENT 40 YEARS ON THE
BACKSIDE OF THE DESERT IN
HIDING.
HERE HE HAD THIS CALLING ON
HIS LIFE.
HE KNEW WHAT GOD HAD SPOKEN
TO HIM, BUT HE BLEW IT.
IT WAS HIS FAULT.
I'M SURE HE LIVED IN REGRETS.
THERE WEREN'T MANY DAYS WENT
BY THAT HE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT
THAT MISTAKE.
"WHY DIDN'T I KEEP MY COOL?
WHY DIDN'T I USE BETTER
JUDGMENT?"
IT LOOKED LIKE THAT HAD
CANCELLED OUT THE PROMISE,
BUT GOD DOESN'T CHANGE HIS
MIND.
OUR MISTAKES MAY DELAY THEM
BUT THEN GOD USES THE DELAYS,
THE SETBACKS, TO DEVELOP US,
TO GET US PREPARED.
NOTHING IS WASTED.
IF YOU'LL KEEP THE RIGHT
ATTITUDE, ALL THINGS WILL
WORK FOR YOUR GOOD.
ONE MORNING MOSES WAS OUT IN
THE DESERT, EVERYTHING SEEMED
NORMAL WHEN SUDDENLY, A BUSH
EXPLODED, CAUGHT FIRE.
WHAT MADE THIS BUSH UNUSUAL
IS THAT IT DIDN'T BURN UP.
INTRIGUED, MOSES WALKED OVER
TO IT, SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.
A VOICE BOOMED OUT, "MOSES,
MOSES, TAKE OFF YOUR SANDALS.
YOU ARE STANDING ON HOLY
GROUND."
IT HAD BEEN 40 YEARS SINCE HE
HAD HEARD GOD'S VOICE, A
SEASON OF SILENCE SO LONG, HE
THOUGHT GOD HAD FORGOTTEN
ABOUT HIM.
HE'D ALREADY ACCEPTED THAT HE
COULDN'T ACCOMPLISH HIS
DESTINY BUT AFTER ALL HIS
MISTAKES, AFTER THE FAILURES,
WHEN HE WAS 80 YEARS OLD, GOD
SHOWED UP AND SAID, "ALL
RIGHT, MOSES, NOW I'M READY
FOR YOU TO GO DELIVER THE
ISRAELITES."
HE WENT OUT AND DID JUST
THAT.
LIKE MOSES, YOU MAY HAVE MADE
MISTAKES, YOU GOT OFF COURSE.
YOU DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN
EVER ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAM.
IT'S BEEN TOO LONG, BUT THAT
SEASON OF SILENCE DOESN'T
MEAN GOD HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT
YOU.
IN THE 40 YEARS MOSES WAS OUT
IN THE DESERT, THE SCRIPTURE
SAYS MOSES BECAME THE MOST
HUMBLE MAN IN ALL THE LAND.
GOD IS WORKING ON YOU IN THE
SILENT YEARS.
YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IT, BUT
HE'S GETTING YOU PREPARED.
YOUR TIME IS COMING.
YOUR BURNING BUSH IS ON THE
WAY.
WHAT GOD STARTED, HE'S GOING
TO FINISH.
EVEN THOUGH IT MAY HAVE BEEN
YOUR FAULT, HE'S STILL GOING
TO BLESS YOU.
HE'S STILL GOING TO FAVOR
YOU.
HE'S STILL GOING TO OPEN
DOORS YOU NEVER DREAMED WOULD
OPEN.
I TALKED TO A GENTLEMAN, WHEN
HE WAS 17 YEARS OLD BACK IN
THE 1960S, HIS GIRLFRIEND
BECAME PREGNANT.
THEIR PARENTS WERE NOT HAPPY.
THEY SENT HIM OFF TO THE
MARINE CORP., THE YOUNG LADY
AND HER FAMILY MOVED TO A
DIFFERENT STATE.
WHILE IN BOOT CAMP, SHE
INFORMED HIM THAT SHE WAS
GIVING THE BABY UP FOR
ADOPTION.
HE WENT OVER AND SERVED
OVERSEAS IN THE SPECIAL
FORCES.
HE WAS HOPING WHEN HE CAME
BACK HOME, THEY'D GET BACK
TOGETHER.
SHE SENT HIM A NOTE SAYING
SHE WAS MOVING ON.
THEY WENT THEIR SEPARATE
WAYS.
FAST FORWARD TO THE YEAR
2009, THE MAN HAD JUST LEFT
HIS WIFE OF 24 YEARS TO AN
ILLNESS.
HE WAS VERY HEARTBROKEN.
THREE MONTHS LATER, HE
RECEIVED A SYMPATHY CARD FROM
HIS FORMER TEENAGE
GIRLFRIEND.
THEY HAD NOT SPOKEN IN OVER
42 YEARS.
HER HUSBAND HAD JUST DIED AS
WELL.
HE WAS ABLE TO FIND HER
NUMBER AND CALL HER.
THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THEY
WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER
AFTER ALL THAT TIME.
SHE TOLD HIM HOW SHE HAD JUST
LOCATED THEIR DAUGHTER THAT
THEY HAD GIVEN UP FOR
ADOPTION.
SHE LIVED A FEW MINUTES FROM
HER.
HE WENT TO SEE THE LADY.
HE MET HIS DAUGHTER FOR THE
FIRST TIME AND HIS
TEN-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON, A
DREAM COME TRUE.
HE AND THE LADY STARTED
DATING, A YEAR LATER, THEY
WERE MARRIED WITH THEIR
DAUGHTER WHO THEY HAD GIVEN
UP FOR ADOPTION AS THE MAID
OF HONOR.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO TAKE
MISTAKES WE'VE MADE AND TURN
THEM INTO MIRACLES.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE.
YOU HAVEN'T MISSED YOUR
CHANCE.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD IS UP
TO.
HE CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN YOU
NEVER DREAMED WOULD HAPPEN.
I'M SURE MOSES NEVER THOUGHT
HE'D FULFILL HIS DESTINY.
ABRAHAM NEVER THOUGHT HE'D
BECOME A FATHER AT AN OLD
AGE.
THIS MAN NEVER THOUGHT HE'D
EVER MEET HIS DAUGHTER, NEVER
SEE HIS FAMILY RESTORED, BUT
GOD IS FULL OF MERCY, AND
FULL OF SURPRISES.
THERE ARE PROMISES YOU MAY
HAVE GIVEN UP ON, BUT GOD HAS
NOT GIVEN UP.
THEY'RE STILL IN YOUR FUTURE.
DON'T DRAG THROUGH LIFE
THINKING YOU'VE SEEN YOUR
BEST DAYS, STIR YOUR FAITH
UP.
THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY IS AT
WORK IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW.
AND I BELIEVE AND DECLARE
WHAT HE'S PROMISED YOU IS
STILL ON THE WAY.
HEALING IS ON THE WAY.
FREEDOM IS ON THE WAY.
THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE ON THE
WAY.
THE FULLNESS OF YOUR DESTINY
IN JESUS'S NAME.
AND IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN
YOU SAY, "AMEN" TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS THE
LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?
JUST SAY, "LORD JESUS, I
REPENT OF MY SINS.
COME INTO MY HEART.
I MAKE YOU MY LORD AND
SAVIOR."
IF YOU PRAYED THAT SIMPLE
PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU GOT
BORN AGAIN.
GET IN A GOOD BIBLE-BASED
CHURCH, KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
HE'S GOING TO TAKE YOU PLACES
THAT YOU'VE NEVER DREAMED.
VICTOR AND I WILL BE THIS
YOUR PARTNERSHIP MAKES
THIS MINISTRY POSSIBLE.
YOUR FAITHFUL AND
CONSISTENT MONTHLY SUPPORT
MAKES YOU A CHAMPION OF
HOPE.
THE VISION OF JOEL OSTEEN
MINISTRIES IS TO USE EVERY
AVENUE AVAILABLE TO PRESENT
THE HOPE OF JESUS CHRIST TO
PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.
WE KNOW IT IS THIS HOPE
AND THE TRANSFORMING
POWER OF THE GOSPEL THAT
MAKES AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE
IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
TO PARTNER WITH JOEL OSTEEN
MINISTRIES, VISIT
JOELOSTEEN.COM/PARTNER
TODAY.
