Joel Osteen Podcast - Deal With It | Joel Osteen

Episode Date: November 27, 2025

When you see your obstacles and struggles as already defeated, you activate God’s power in your life. He can turn what was meant to be a stumbling block into a stepping stone for your destiny. Fear says, “You can’t.” Faith says, “God will!” This November, take a 30-day journey to renew your mind and walk confidently in God’s promises. Request No More Fear: You Have the Mind of Christ and choose faith over fear today!https://bit.ly/42Ti2dH  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. Well, God bless you. It's a joy to come into your homes. If you're ever in our area, I hope you'll stop by and be a part of one of our services. These are the finest people in all of Houston, Texas, right here at Lakewood.

We'll make you feel right at home. But thanks for tuning in. Thank you again for coming out. I'd like to start with something funny, and I heard about this man. He sat down on an airplane next to a beautiful single lady. They struck up a conversation, and he asked, what kind of men do you like? She said, well, I like Native American men with their high cheekbones and their gold and tan skin. Plus, I like Jewish men.

They're so brilliant and so successful. And then I like good old boys from the South with their long southern drawings. What's your name? He said, my name is Geronimo Bernstein. But my friends call me Bubba. Hold up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus name. God bless you. I want to talk to you today about dealing with it. It is anything that's keeping you from being your best. It may be an addiction, a bad habit, a hot temper,

or maybe something we'd consider smaller, not getting to work on time, not treating somebody right, a critical spirit. God's always dealing with us about something. He's always wanting us to come to a new level. but any time we go higher, part of our flesh has to go lower. The scripture says, if we're going to share in Christ's glory, we have to share in his suffering. There is a suffering that we as believers are supposed to endure.

But it's not tragedies, sickness, living poor, broke, defeated, I'm suffering for Christ. No, 1. Peter 4 tells us what it is. It says, if you are willing to suffer for Christ, then you have decided to put aside your wrong desires. The suffering God's talking about is saying no to our flesh. When you resist temptation, when you bite your tongue and don't tell somebody off, when you swallow your pride and forgive someone that hurt you, your flesh, everything on the inside is going to throw a fit, saying this is not right, this is not right. this is not fair, let me tell them all. Many times it's uncomfortable to make the right decision. We have to suffer through that period of not getting our way.

When God asks us to do something hard, he asks you to walk away from a friend that's polluting your life. He asks us to be more disciplined in what we watch. God is never trying to take something from us. He's trying to get something to us. Whenever God's moving you away from something, he's always moving you towards something better. God has our best interests at heart. And if we will be willing to suffer through being uncomfortable, not getting our way,

then our character is being developed. As we grow, as we mature, God's blessings will be released. See, every time you say no to the flesh, every time you resist that temptation, the next time it will be a little easier, a little less painful. See, whatever you feed is going to grow. If you feed the addiction, feed the jealousy, feed the bad habit, the hot temper, and you just give in whenever you feel like it, then it's going to become stronger. You need to change what you're feeding. The next time you're tempted, take a deep breath, step back and pray.

God, I'm asking you for your discipline. Then dig your heels in and walk away. What happened? You just starve the flesh and you fed the spirit. but many people choose what's comfortable now, and then later on wonder why they don't have victory. It was an 11-day journey to the promised land, but the people of Israel went around the same mountain for 40 years and never did make it in. They were complainers, they were negative, ungrateful. God gave them chance after chance, but they kept failing the test.

They didn't deal with it. And yes, they lived an okay life, a get by life, but they missed God's best. And sometimes we wonder why we feel stuck at the same place, why we can't seem to get out of this rut. It could be because we're not dealing with what God brings to light. When you feel the conviction on the inside, something says, you need to treat that person better. You need to get to work on time. You need to get help with that bad habit. those are not just nice thoughts.

That's God speaking to you, wanting to bring you up higher. Don't ignore it. Don't sweep it under the rug. It may be difficult, but it's better to make right choices and be uncomfortable for a while than to keep going the same way

and miss your destiny. The pain of discipline is temporary, but the pain of compromise is permanent. I say every day, God, search my heart. Am I on the right track? God show me areas I need to improve in. What can I do better? See, God doesn't require us to be perfect. All he asks is that we keep trying. We keep taking steps to improve. And we should treat people better this year than we did five years ago. We should have more discipline, less bad habits, a better attitude. And if you're stuck at the same place, you need to pray

God show me what I need to do to improve. And then pay attention to your conscience. Listen to what you're hearing down in here. Sometimes we've ignored what God has brought up so long that we've become numb to that conviction. At first it was like an alarm going off. We knew it was wrong. It really bothered us.

But we pushed it down again and again. And now it's no big deal. One of the best prayers we could ever pray is God help me to stay. sensitive to your voice. God help me to respond to your conviction. Help me not to go against my conscience. If you will stay open and pay attention to what you're hearing down in here, God will keep you from making a major mistake. One time in the scripture, Abraham and his wife Sarah moved to a new city. And Sarah was a very beautiful woman. Abraham was concerned that this king

would see how beautiful she was and kill Abraham and take Sarah in as one of his wives. To avoid all this, Abraham told everyone that Sarah was his sister and not his wife. Just like he thought, the king saw how beautiful she was and took her to be his wife. But just before he could follow through, God showed this king that she was really married, caused him to stop. The scripture says, God said to the king, because of the integrity of your heart, I have kept you from making a mistake. In one sense, it wouldn't have been the king's fault. He didn't know any better. That's the way God is. When you walk in his ways, it says in Psalms, God will keep your foot from stumbling.

When you say, God, search me, make me, mold me, show me where I need to change. And then you pay attention to that still small voice. Like this king, God will keep you from making a mistake. major mistake. And if you have areas that you struggle in, and we all do, don't ignore it. Don't sweep it under the rug and hope that it'll go away. What you don't confront, you cannot conquer. If you have a problem with jealousy, just get it out in the open. God, every time I see my friend, she's so talented, she's so beautiful, I tend to get jealous. God help me. Or God, these people really hurt me. I'm having a problem for giving them. God, I've got this resentment in my heart. It's better to be open and honest than to go around acting like you're

perfect, pushing things down, hoping that they'll go away. I've learned proud people get stuck. Proud people don't reach their full potential. A proud person won't ask God for his help. You have to humble yourself and say, God, I can't break this addiction on my own. I need your help. It takes humility to say, God, I've got a problem with my temper. God, I know I should treat my spouse better. God, I know I shouldn't be watching these things. God, give me the strength, the power to overcome. When you have a humble, dependent attitude, asking in faith,

God will never let you down. It may not happen overnight, but God will give you the strength to rise above it. When you look to the Lord for your help, that's the kind of people God uses to do amazing things. Not perfect people, but people that are defensive. depending on him, people that are trusting in him for his mercy, his strength, his power to fulfill their destiny. And here's the good news.

God will never ask you to do something and then not give you the power to do it. It may be difficult, but you are equipped. You are empowered. The greatest force in the universe is breathing in your direction. If you will do what you can, then God will do what you can't. But here's a key. God is not going to do for you what you can do for yourself. You've got to dig your hills in and be disciplined. You've got to stay away from the places and people that are bringing you down. You've got to make an effort. Get up early and pray. Find friends that will support you. Feed your mind, thoughts of hope, faith, victory. Make church being around other believers a priority. When God sees you doing what you can, responding to the that conviction, taking steps to improve. When you do the natural, God will show up and do the supernatural. I know this man that struggled with an addiction for a long time, and he's really

wanted to stop. And a couple of years ago, he was all fired up, so excited. He said, Joel, I know this is my time. I'm going to break this bad habit. He felt a new strength, a new determination. But the problem is he never really acted on it. He knew he was equipped. He knew it was his time, but he kept putting it off, thinking, I'll start next week. The next week came, I'll start the next week. Well, a couple of months later, he didn't have that strong desire anymore. He didn't feel that strength, that determination. I'll never forget what he told me.

He said, Joel, I missed my season of grace. I said, what do you mean? He said, I knew that I could break that addiction. It was so strong in me, but I ignored. it. I didn't act on it, and I missed that window of opportunity. And of course, God will always give us another chance. But there are seasons of grace to break what's holding you back. A season of grace to forgive someone that hurt you.

A season of grace to make a change in a wrong relationship. When you feel God bringing that to light, you know like he did, this is your time. You can come up higher. Don't push it down. Don't ignore it. Step into that grace. Get up early and pray. Take a class that will help you.

Don't miss your season. God's bringing it to light because it's a window of opportunity to come up higher. And yes, if you miss this season, there will be another one, but you'll have to go around the same mountain again, dealing with the same issues. Plus, the longer we wait, the more difficult it is to overcome. home. I believe many of you are about to enter in to one of these seasons of grace. God's power, his favor, his mercy is going to flood your mind, flood your body like never before.

You're going to feel the wind of his spirit breathing in your direction to help you overcome things that have held you back for years and years. Step into that grace. This is your time to come up higher. It may be difficult, but your destiny is worth fighting for. It may be uncomfortable. You may have to suffer for a while, but your destiny is worth that. Push through anything that's holding you back. Get ready to step in to a new season of God's favor. Here's what I've learned.

With every act of obedience, there is a blessing tied to it. Just the fact that you came today, the fact that you're watching, you're saying, God, I honor you. You're a priority in my life. There's a blessing attached to that. When God asks you to do something that seems difficult, he asks you to forgive somebody that really hurt you. He asks you to walk away from a friend that's polluting your life. It would take a major effort on your part, a major sacrifice. You can be assured that a major blessing will follow. There will be a major shift in your life for the better. think about Abraham.

God asked him to take his only son Isaac. This was the son they had waited 20 years for. The son they had prayed and believed and stood in faith. He finally showed up. And God asked Abraham to take his little boy up

on the top of a mountain and sacrifice him. Abraham could have ignored it. Thought this is not God. This is the devil. This is my promised child. He could have pushed it down, paid any attention. And I'm sure Abraham, like the Israelites, could have lived an okay life. But when God asked you to do something that seems hard and you obey, then something amazing will always follow. Abraham got to the top of the mountain. He put his little boy on the altar.

Just as he was going to follow through, God said, Abraham, don't do it. I just wanted to see if you would obey me when it was extremely difficult. Abraham looked over and he saw a ram caught in the brush. He knew that was the real sacrifice. This is where we get the phrase Jehovah Jira, the Lord, our provider. And what's interesting, if you study rams, they never go that high up in the mountain. It's not natural to them. But when you do what God's asking you to do, every step you take in obedience,

the ram is taking a step toward you, coming up the other side of the mountain. you may not be able to see it. You're doing the right thing. You're being disciplined. You're trying to break the habit. But it doesn't look like anything's happening. No, what you cannot see is on the other side of the mountain. Your provision, your healing, your breakthrough, your turnaround is making its way toward you. You just keep doing what you know God's asking you to do. Keep walking in obedience. Keep taking steps to improve. And before long, your ram is going to show up. God's going to say you pass the test. You've been extremely obedient, extremely faithful. You've made extreme sacrifices. Now, here are my extreme blessings. Here's my

extreme favor. You're going to see God's goodness in ways you've never seen before. And Abraham, he didn't just find a ram. He didn't just have his son's life spared, although that's huge. But Abraham was the one God started the country. God started the country. covenant with. Today you and I are called the seed of Abraham. What am I saying? When you radically obey, God will radically bless. There are other people in the scripture, however, that didn't have the same story as Abraham. They did just the opposite. Samson had a supernatural beginning. His birth was announced by the angels. God destined him to do great things. But Samson wasn't disciplined in what he watched. He couldn't keep his eyes off the wrong things. No telling how many times God dealt with him

about that. You never make a mistake without God giving you plenty of warnings. God's very merciful. You'll hear the alarm going on saying, don't do it. It's not right. On the inside, you'll feel an uneasiness. Again and again, year after year, Samson ignored it. He ended up as a slave, blind, grinding at the mill. Didn't fulfill his destiny. Could have all been avoided if he had been willing to deal with it. Saul was chosen to be the king of Israel. God's hand of favor was upon him. But Saul had a problem with jealousy. He couldn't stand the fact that David was more popular than him. No doubt God dealt with him again and again. Saul, let it go. Be happy for David.

Like Samson, he ignored it. Saul went around the same mountain again and again, ended up dying an early death, killed in battle. When you think about it, jealousy is a small thing to keep us from our destiny. Not being disciplined in what we watch is small compared to the amazing plan God has for your life. It wouldn't have been that difficult for Saul to overcome jealousy. I'm sure he had plenty seasons of grace. Would have been too hard for Samson to stay focused. After all, that was nothing compared to what Abraham had to deal with.

But the scripture says it's the little foxes that spoil the vines. Don't let something small keep you from God's best. One wrong friend, not forgiving someone, one bad habit. That's small compared to where God wants to take you. In the scripture, there's a man by the name of Gahezy. He was Elisha's assistant. One time, Elisha prayed for this man that had leprosy, and God healed him. The man was so excited and so grateful, he asked Elisha if he could pay him

or give him some type of gift to express his gratitude. Lysia said, no, no, I didn't hear you. God did. I won't take anything. The man pleaded and pleaded. He said, come on, Elisha, let me give you some gold, some silver, let me give you something. Again, Elisha refused. The man in his party got on the road and headed toward their home in a different city. Well, Gahezi, Elisha's assistant, overheard all this. When Elisha wasn't watching, he snuck out of the house and ran down the road

and caught up with them. The man was surprised and said, Gahezy, what are you doing here? He said, well, Elisha sent me because we've had some unexpected guests show up. He was wondering if you might give us some of those gifts you talk about. The man said, of course I will.

He loaded Gaheza down with gold and silver. Gahezi left there, happy as can be, feeling like he just won the lottery. But what Gahezai didn't realize is God sees everything. God's the one that lifts up one and brings down another. Gahazai got back to Lisha's house, acted like everything was fine. Lisha said, Gahazai, where have you been? said, no, nowhere, just here hanging out at the house. Lysha said, Gahezi, don't you know that when you left,

my spirit went with you and you cannot fool God? The scripture says immediately Gahezi's skin was filled with leprosy. And I don't believe that God sins the leprosy, but we can step out of God's protection. God was saying, hey, if you don't want my favor, my blessings, my protection, I'll remove it. I'll take it away. What we don't know is how many times God had dealt with Gahezi telling him, come on Gahezi. you've got to change. You got to come up higher. Be more honest. Have more integrity again and again. Gahezi refused. He didn't let God make him and mold him. Think about this.

Elisha was Elijah's assistant. He received a double portion of Elijah's anointing. Well, Gahezy was Elisha's assistant. He was in line for a double portion. That would have been four times the anointing that Elijah had. Friends, don't miss doing something great because you keep pushing things down. All you've got to do is stay open. Say, God, make me, mold me, show me where I need to change. If you have a heart to improve, God will have incredible mercy on you. God doesn't expect us to be perfect. He doesn't condemn us when we fail.

He doesn't write us off because we've missed it in the past. As long as we get up and keep trying, God will give us another chance again and again. and again. One time David was facing the Jebusites. They were living in Jerusalem on the land that was promised to be the city of David. It was up on a big hill. It was surrounded by walls, like a big fort. That's where David was supposed to reign from. But David and his men were down in the valley. Everything was fine down there. Nobody bothered them as long as they were in the valley. But unless David conquered this enemy. Unless he took this city that God had promised him, that enemy would always be able to taunt him. Every time they looked up and saw that city, they would be reminded of what

should have been theirs. There are certain enemies that if you don't conquer, they will taunt you your whole life. As long as you're in the valley, everything's okay. But when you look up and see what you should be, it'll frustrate you. This is the way David and his men felt. They had partial victory. They had control over the lower areas, over the valley, but David knew that city on a hill was supposed to be his. He got fired up. He told his men, we're going to take this city. Well, the Jebusites were prepared. They were on guard, fully expecting David and his army to come charging over those walls, and they were going to let them have it. But David did something interesting. The city of Jerusalem,

had developed a unique water system made up of small tunnels and canals that the water and sewer flowed through. It was underground. It's a very sophisticated system back for those days. The people didn't have to go out and get water. It came right to their homes underneath the ground. David and his men, instead of going over the walls, they got down on their knees and crawled through the sewer, through the water, through the water. the gutter and totally surprised the Jebusites. When they showed up, it caught them off guard. They were able to defeat that enemy. David was saying, in order to take this city, I'm willing to humble myself and get on my knees and do whatever I have to do to get this victory. You've got to come

to the point where like David, you have a made-up mind. You're not going to let the enemy taunt you your whole life. You're not going to settle for partial victory. You're going to do whatever it takes to conquer that enemy. You've got to be willing to get on your knees, to pray, to ask God for his health. There are enemies that you cannot defeat in your own strength. The real question is, how bad do you want it? David was willing to do what others would not do. Do you want it bad enough to be uncomfortable?

Do you want it bad enough to get up early and pray? Do you want it bad enough to humble yourself and say, God, I can't do this in my own strength? If you will be willing to do what other people will not do, God will show up and help you conquer every single enemy in your life. Friends, there will always be something that stands between you and your destiny. Pride, jealousy, and offense, a bad habit, the enemy will give you the low ground. He'll give you being mediocre, being average, not making a difference, no problem with that. But when you have a big dream, when you say, no, I'm not going to live with things holding me back. I'm not going to go through life angry, low self-esteem, addicted.

I'm going to deal with what God brings up. I'm going to become all that He's created me to be. When you refuse to settle for the low ground and you reach for the high ground, you're going to see God's favor in amazing ways. I'm asking us today to shake off any kind of mediocrity. You have seeds of greatness on the inside. There's no obstacle too big, no addiction too great, no bad habit too strong. You and God are a majority. Now, I'm not looking at Gahazes.

I'm not looking at Samson nor Saul's. I'm looking at Abraham's. I'm looking at David's. People that are extremely obedient. People that aren't satisfied with the low ground. people that know how to step in to their seasons of grace. I speak strength over you. I speak victory over you.

I speak breakthroughs over you. Some of you have struggled in an area for a long time, but let me announce it. Today is a breakthrough day. The enemies we've seen in the past, we will see no more. God is doing a new thing. The ram is coming up the mountain.

You're about to see your provision. You're about to see your turnaround. You're going to meet up with your healing, with your breakthrough, with your promotion. Now, just keep doing the right thing. Keep letting God make you and mold you. Keep dealing with what he brings to light. Because of your radical obedience, I believe and declare, you're going to see God's radical favor, radical blessings, radical turnarounds in Jesus' name. If you receive it, can you say amen today?

We never like to close our broadcast without giving 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. Friends, 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 your places you've never dreamed up. Fear can be a powerful force and will try to make you feel alone, stuck, without hope. But fear doesn't have to get the final say.

There is a way out. Fear is a powerful force, but so is faith. What we focus on shapes our reality. In my new book, No More Fear, You Have the Mind of Christ, I'll show you how to silence fear and live boldly in faith and confidence. Just like David said, though I walk through the valley, I will not fear, you too can walk through life's challenges

without being paralyzed by fear. I can't promise you you'll never feel fear, but I can teach you how to rise above it by dwelling on what God says, learning to replace the anxious thoughts with faith-filled ones. You can live from a place of peace, power, and purpose.

As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount this month, we would like to send you a copy of Joel's book, No More Fear. You have the mind of Christ. The Bible proclaims, The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?

This powerful and practical book will help you silence doubt, overcome anxiety, and step boldly into God's overcoming power. When fear whispers, you can't. This devotional will stir your faith to declare God will. Each page reminds you that you weren't created to live in fear or despair. You were created to live with passion, purpose, and confidence in God's place. for your life. Let God's word equip you to rise above fear and walk in victory. Fear doesn't have the final say. God does. Be bold, be strong and step up to who he made you

to be. Victoria and I want you to know we're praying for you and your family, believing for God's very best. Thank you so much for your prayer and support. Your generosity is helping people around the world. As we finish this year, I hope you'll consider making a special year-in gift helps to keep the ministry strong. I always want to thank our champion of hope partners for your monthly gifts. If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. Until we see you next time, may the Lord bless you and keep you. Be sure to request your copy of Joel's new book. No more fear. You have the mind of Christ. Visit Joel Osteen.com or call 888.

58, 567, Joel. And for an additional gift this month, we're also offering the God's Word Work study collection. This empowering set includes the NIV, the Message Parallel Bible, Joel's No More Fear Devotional, the classic How to Read Your Bible and enjoy it, plus a beautifully crafted leather bookmark with pen. You can request these inspiring scripture discovery resources by calling 888-567, Joel, or logging on to joelowstein.com today.

Call or click anytime, 24 hours a day. Silence fear. Strengthen your spirit. Let God's Word equip you to rise above fear and walk in victory. Request these resources today.