Joel Osteen Podcast - An Up Close And Personal God | Victoria Osteen

Episode Date: August 16, 2025

God is not ashamed of you. He knows everything about you, and He's reaching out to you with love. Your best days are still ahead, and together we can make a difference in this world with the message of God's hope and love. To give visit JoelOsteen.com/GiveHope.God’s grace is the key for you to step fully into the future He has prepared for you. Our August offer will help you overcome your past, let go of fear, and rise in bold faith. Request Victoria’s new book and know with confidence that you are Graced to Go, https://bit.ly/4jYrsdS! Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of the Joel Osteen Podcast ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. It's good to be in the house of the Lord. We love you so much. You may be seated. Seven billion people estimated to be on this planet.

Can you believe that? Seven billion people. With seven billion people, there's probably a lot of problems. in the world. Probably a lot of issues going on. You know, I just want to tell you today, there may be seven billion people on this earth, but I want you to know you are up close and personal with God today. Don't feel like you're alone. Don't feel like that he does not know where you are and what is going on in your life, because the Bible tells us that he's counted every hair on your head. Job said this, he knows everywhere I go. He knows every step I take.

The scripture says that he knows every breath we take. God is an ever-present, God. He is omnipresent, which means he is everywhere all the time. He is omnipotent. He is the creator of this universe, and he controls it all. So often, people feel like maybe God doesn't know where they are. I'm in this big world all by myself, but I'm here to announce today. day, God has you in his sights. And he knows exactly what's going on in your life.

I love the story found in John 4. It's about the Samaritan woman who came to the well one afternoon and Jesus was there. Now, this story has amazing revelations of all kind. But what I want to look at today, when this woman came to the well, Jesus was there all by himself. So she came to the well at the hottest part of the day. She was by herself. She was actually trying to avoid people. She had quite the reputation. So it was her time to slide in,

get her water from the well, and get out before anybody else could see her. But she encountered Jesus that day. And when she came upon Jesus, he drew near to her. He began to talk to her. He began to ask her questions. Now, Jesus was a Jew,

and she was a Samaritan, and the two didn't mix. She was astounded that first of all, this Jewish man would talk to her. So she began to talk back to him. She slowly but surely eased a little closer and began to listen to what he said. Jesus was offering her salvation that day.

He began to ask her about her life, and she answered a few questions. And then at that moment, he wanted her to know something very important. He wanted her to know that he knew all about her. He began to tell her, yes, I know that you have been married five times. And he said, I know that the man you're with right now, he's not your husband. She couldn't believe it.

This man knew everything about her. He was a Jew. He was still talking to her. He was offering her living water, even though she didn't quite comprehend what he was saying. She felt the closeness. He was drawing her unto himself. He was saying, I know all about you. and I still love you.

And I want to offer you something in your life that will fix every problem you have or you will ever have. She was so touched. She was so moved that she literally ran into town to tell people about this man. She wanted to spread the news that there is a man at Jacob's Well that knows everything about me. Now, you have to understand this woman was an outcast. people would have shunned her. They labeled her. But she was so confident after speaking to Jesus

that she stripped off all those labels and she ran to those people. She did not care. She said, I want you to know. There is a man who has drawn me near with such love and affection. He knows everything about me and he hasn't judged me.

Psalm 3418, the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and he saves those with crushed spirits. See, this woman was brokenhearted. She was crushed by the trials of life. But Jesus said, you're the one I want to save. You're the one I want to draw near to. You're not alone. You're not too far from God. He's drawing near to you even now. We were at a play a couple years ago at the Wortham Theater here in the city. And we had okay seats. I couldn't see the stage very well. And there were five of

And as we sat down and got all situated, I realized there was only one set of binoculars for all five of us. So I waited patiently as the play began for the binoculars to make their way down to me. And when they did, I got those binoculars in my hand, and I was so excited. I drew those binoculars up near my eyes, and I focused them just right. And do you know I got so close to that stage where I was far away. from the stage, it now was right up, close, and personal. I could literally see the expressions on the actor's faces. I could hear them better because I knew which one was talking now. What was once far away had been drawn close to me because I had these binoculars focused.

And do you know sometimes in life we feel so far away from God? But can I tell you in Ephesians too? It says, but now in Christ, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Jesus Christ? See, you may have been far away and distant in your life, but God has got you in his sights. He has put his God binoculars, and he has focused you in. You are right there up close and personal to your God today. Don't get a distorted view of a person who cannot be seen and who cannot be felt by God. You are not just one of seven billion, you are God's chosen vessel. You are his child. He has hand-picked you. He wants to offer you something every single day that will take care of every problem you have or every problem you will ever

have. He wants to spill your thirsty soul. He doesn't care where you've been. He doesn't care what you've done. He just wants you to know, I'm right here. I'm an up close and personal God. See, when you have children, you get a little better understanding of God's powerful love towards you. Joel and I have two children. They are my children, okay? I carried them for nine months. I delivered them. They are my children. Everything good about those children are me. Everything not so good. Joel, those are my kids. And can I tell you, I'm thinking of them all the time. No matter where they are, I am thinking about those kids. Whether they call me or text me, I love to hear from them. I find joy. If they call me wanting something like they usually do, that's okay because they're my kids. Do I agree with everything? No, I don't.

But let me tell you something, I am committed to those kids. I will draw close to those kids all the days of their life because they are mine. They belong to me and I'm committed to them. I will never throw my hands up no matter what and say, I'm done. I will never turn my back on them and say, whenever you get it right, then you can come close to me. No, I will always run to them no matter what, because they are mine. And that's exactly what our Heavenly Father does. He doesn't judge us.

He doesn't criticize us. He doesn't always look at what we're doing wrong. He has not thrown his hands up and taken his face away. No, he has drawn near. even in the worst of your times, you get the best of your God. He says, when you are weak, I'll be strong through you. I'll never retract my love. I will never be distant from you, but I will always be that up close and personal God.

Can I tell you today to whatever you're facing? God sees it. He sees the expression on your face. He feels the pain in your heart, and it's only a matter of time before he helps you and changes the situation. but you cannot think that you are not important to God. You've got to grab hold of what he is offering you today. Have confidence today that no matter what mess you're in,

whether you caused it, whether someone else caused it, have confidence that God is going to help you. Just like that woman at the well, listen, she erased every label when she realized this Messiah, this God, the one we have always been longing for, is standing in front of me and willing to draw near to me. God is an amazing God. He loves you, no matter what's going on in your life,

grab hold of him, respond to him in faith. Get this image of him looking through his binoculars, keeping you close, and I believe things will turn around in your life. You'll become stronger and more confident to face every challenge and every problem you ever encounter. Amen. Amen. It's easy to get stuck in life because of fear and lack of confidence, or we've been through disappointments.

But I'm excited about Victoria's new book, Grace to Go. It'll help you move past what's holding your back and step into new levels of your destiny. My heart for this book is that you will discover the courage, the gifts, and the faith that God has put in you so that you can see your dreams come to pass. It's not too late. The obstacles are not too big.

The grace of God equips you to go beyond your comfort zone and overcome what looks impossible. You are stronger than you think. You are not alone. You are graced to go. As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount this month, we'll send you Victoria Osteen's brand new book, Graced to Go. Step onto the bigger, bolder life that belongs to you. This inspiring resource will help you break through fear, insecurity, or regret, and activate the faith to move forward. Each chapter will stir your spirit, renew your perspective. and empower you to live boldly.

You don't have to wait for perfect conditions. God's grace meets you where you are and propels you into a future full of purpose and peace. With an additional gift, we'll send you the Grace to Go Bold bundle, featuring Grace to Go by Victoria Osteen and Pray Bold by Joel Osteen. These two powerful books will stir your faith,

break hesitation, and help you believe big again. Grace is power. When you receive it by faith, it enables you to take the next step so you can become all you are created to be. Victoria and I are so grateful to spend this time with you. We pray for you and your family every day. Thank you so much for your prayer and support.

Your generosity is helping people around the world. Special thank you to our Champion of Hope Partners for your monthly gifts. If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. Remember, you can watch the services online, every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube, the new Joel Osteen Network, social media. Of course, listen on Sirius XM 24-7.

We'll help you stay encouraged and inspired. If you're a pastor, we'd like to invite you to our pastors gathering. We'd be honored to spend the day with you here at Lakewood. We'll share some of the things we've learned, insights, and behind the scenes. Be a time of inspiration and encouragement. We'd love to meet you. These two powerful books will stir your faith, break hesitation, and help you believe big again. Be sure to request your copy of these powerful resources today.

For an additional donation this month, we are also offering the NLT, Large Print, Thinline Reference Bible. This Bible also enables you to connect through your smartphone or tablet to a vast, power-packed array of study notes, devotionals, interactive maps, videos, worship music. You can request these inspiring resources by calling 888-567, Joel, or logging on to Joel Osteen.com today. Call or click anytime, 24 hours a day. Start fresh. Step forward. You are graced to go. Request your copies today.