Joel Osteen Podcast - I Still Believe | Joel Osteen

Episode Date: May 6, 2024

Before you can see the fulfillment of God's promise, sometimes you have to go from "I believe" to "I still believe." Even when it doesn't look like anything is changing, what He promised is still on the way.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 visitJoelOsteen.com/GiveHope.Three minutes. Every day. Before your feet hit the floor, set your mind on things above with Joel’s new devotional, 3-Minute Mornings. Our May offer contains 365 days of favor and freedom. Put God first place, and you’ll see breakthroughs you couldn’t make happen. Request your copy today, https://bit.ly/4di5pMO.  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.

God does things out of normal timing. He has unscheduled blessings. We didn't see it coming. We thought we missed our chance. That season was over. You don't know what God is up to. He's going to do some things out of season. When it doesn't typically happen,

you weren't next in line, but suddenly you're promoted. The medical report says it's too late. Suddenly your health turns around. You'd given up on the dream. Suddenly the door opens. Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry.

If you enjoyed 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. God bless you. It's great to have you with us today. And if you're ever in the Houston area, please stop by and be a part of one of our services. We'd love to have you.

I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week. We have a daily podcast you can download. our YouTube channel, watch the messages anytime. You can follow us on social media. We'll keep you encouraged and inspired. I like to start with something funny and I heard about this pastor. He was finishing up a fiery sermon on self-control. He said with great passion, if I had all the beer in the world, I'd throw it in the river. With greater fervor, if I had all the wine in the world, I'd throw it in the river. Almost at the top of his lungs. If I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd throw it in the river. He sat down. Song leader came up, said for a closing song,

let's sing him 365. Shall we gather at the river? 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 I still believe.

We all have promises we're standing on. Dreams we're hoping will come to pass. It's easy to believe it first. But what happens when nothing is improving? We've had setbacks. The door didn't open. Our health didn't get better. That's a test.

Before the promise comes to pass, most of the time you have to go from I believe to I still believe. I was hoping to get a good medical report. Wasn't what I thought, but I still believe I'm going to get well. Been praying for my child a long time. He hasn't gotten back on course, but I still believe he will fulfill his destiny. Still believe means you're not moved by what's not changing. You're not discouraged by how long it's taking, by the setback, the disappointment. You're, you're not. You're not discouraged by how long it's taking. You're know God is still on the throne. He's ordering your steps. What he promised is on the way. Don't get talked out of what you're believing for. When you're tempted to get discouraged,

just switch over from I believe to I still believe. The pandemic has slowed my business, but I still believe I'm going to have a blessed year. Struggled with this addiction a long time. Thoughts tell me it's permanent, but I still believe I'm going to live free. God is looking for I still believe people. You had every right to give up. The disappointment should have discouraged you. The setback should have talked you out of it. You haven't seen any sign of things changing, but you keep believing, you keep praising, you keep thanking God it's on the way, you keep acting like it's going to happen. All the facts say it's impossible. Your attitude is, that's okay. God can do the impossible. in the natural, there's no way. I'm not worried. God is supernatural. The medical report says,

you're not going to get well. Just learn to live with it. I'm not worried. God can do what medicine cannot do. He said the number of my days he will fulfill. I still believe. Maybe you tried to accomplish a dream, but no doors opened. You were turned down for the loan. The people you need weren't there for you. Thoughts tell you it's too late. You're too old. You're too old. it would have happened by now. That's all a part of the process. God didn't give you the dream and not have a way to bring it to pass.

He's already taken into account all the setbacks, the delays, the betrayals, the closed doors. He's watching to see if you still believe. Are you going to get talked out of it? Give up on a dream because it hasn't happened yet. Let go of a promise because you haven't seen anything improving. God didn't change his mind.

He doesn't abort dreams. What he's promised is still on the way. He just needs some, I still believe, faith. Faith that says, I've seen the obstacles. The opposition is bigger, but I still believe we can get the compact center. I don't know how we can pay for it. We don't have the finances, but I still believe Jehovah Jira, the Lord our provider, will supply all of our needs.

don't get talked out of your dreams. Switch over to I still believe. I still believe means the disappointment is not going to cause you to get discouraged. The negative chatter, the people who don't believe in you, is not going to dampen your faith. How long it's taking.

Who did you wrong? The environment you were raised in is not going to stop your destiny. Pass the test. God knows how long it's been. He's seen the disappointments. how you prayed, done the right thing, but it hasn't improved, your time is coming. It's not too late.

You haven't missed it. Circumstances didn't stop it. What God put in your heart is still on the way. There was a young boy. He grew up in a small village in East Africa. He loved school, loved to learn. As a little boy, his dream was to go to college. That was unheard of.

The people there were very poor. on top of that they were suffering from a huge famine struggling to survive his father was killed when he was seven his mother died when he was 12 he went to live with his grandmother she became very ill and he ended up her main caretaker he would get up at five in the morning and study for an hour then it was an hour and a half walk to get water for the day after making his grandmother breakfast he would go to the village school all the odds were against him. How could he get a college education? An orphan, living in the slums, no money, no one to look after him. But this young man had I still believe faith. Despite his environment, despite what looked impossible, every night he would pray, God, I want to go to college. I want to make a difference with my life. Even though I don't see how it can work out, I still believe you can make it happen. In that country, the children only went to school through junior high. You had to pay for high school. Only 1% could afford it.

At 12 years old, one night he had a dream. He saw a house with a man in it named Mr. Stanley. He was from a foreign country. In this dream, Mr. Stanley helped him with his tuition. He knew exactly where the house was. The next day, he went there. Guards were all around it. He told the officers he wanted to see Mr. Stanley. They were surprised that he knew the man's name. Intriged, Mr. Stanley allowed him in. The young man explained his situation, how he had a dream to continue learning but didn't have the funds.

Mr. Stanley was so impressed, he said, I'll not only pay your tuition, but I'll buy all your books and all your supplies. He did so well in high school, the teachers got him an internship working in the park. When he finished high school, he received a full scholarship to come to college in the United States. Now he's back home doing great things in his country. When you have, I still believe, faith, miracles are set in motion.

Angels go to work, favor, healing, divine connections. God will make things happen that seem unlikely out of the ordinary. Are you letting your circumstances talk you out? of what God put in your heart. You believed it one time, but you had obstacles, didn't work out, nobody would help you.

Now you've quit believing. God still wants to bring it to pass, but you have to get in agreement with him and say, God, I still believe it can happen. I still believe I can have this baby. I still believe my family can be restored. I still believe I can live healthy and whole. I still believe I can start my business,

write my book, pay my house off. Joel, I tried and it didn't work out. That's part of the process. That doesn't mean it's not going to happen. Those are tests that you have to pass. God wouldn't have allowed the difficulty, the delay, the disappointment if it was going to stop your purpose. You have to have a made-up mind that you're going to believe until you see that promise come to pass. This is what Abraham did. God gave him the promise that is His wife Sarah was going to have a baby, but they were too old. Abraham was in his 80s. Sarah had gone through the change of life.

She had been barren, never had children. If God had given her this promise in her 20s or in her 30s, that would make sense. She could believe it. But now she's way past the childbearing years. And sometimes God puts promises in our heart that seemed too late. We would believe it if it happened earlier, but now we don't see how. Many times God does things out of normal timing. He has unscheduled blessings. We didn't see it coming. We thought we missed our chance. That season was over. You don't know what God is up to.

He's going to do some things out of season when it doesn't typically happen. You weren't next in line, but suddenly you're promoted. The medical report says it's too late. Suddenly your health turns around. You don't. You don't. You don't know. You given up on the dream, suddenly the door opens. I can imagine Abraham, when he first heard the promise, he was so excited, seemed unlikely, but faith rose in his heart. God, I believe you'll give me a son. A few months went by and nothing happened. A couple of years, still nothing. Now thoughts of doubt started to whisper, are you sure God said you would have a child? Don't you think it would happen by now? How is that even possible in the first place? Look at how old you are.

More years past. Sarah started to get frustrated. She told Abraham to sleep with her maid. She thought if I can't have a baby, at least this maid will have one. And we'll count that our child. They had a baby, but it wasn't the promised child. You don't have to help God out. Try to manipulate things, force doors to open, convince people to be for you,

let God do it his way. Don't get in a hurry. You have to be mature enough to believe that the promise is coming and not be frustrated while you're waiting. It's through faith and patience that we inherit the promises. God's timing is the best time. Years went by. Still no child, no sign of it happening. They're both getting older. Abraham was at a critical point. He had plenty of reasons to get discouraged. give up on the promise. But the scripture says, against all hope, he hoped on in faith. He came to this place where he went from I believe to I still believe. I'm almost 100 years old. We've made mistakes, had disappointments, but I still believe what God promised. I can hear people laughing. Come on, Abraham, you're an old man. You're wasting your time. You can't have a baby.

Abraham said, no thanks. I know my God is faithful. Now I'm not going to let time talk me out of it. Disappointments. People that didn't help me. Negative chatter. I still believe my baby is on the way. He had a made up mind. Despite all the negative circumstances, he chose to have, I still believe, faith. When Sarah was 90 years old, against all odds, she conceived and gave birth to a son that they named. Isaac. The name Isaac means laughter. When you do like Abraham and still believe, you're going to have some blessings that make you laugh. God is going to do things that surprise you. Open doors you never dream would open. Turn situations around that look permanent. Where you're in such amazement, such awe that you're filled with joy. All you can do is say, look at the goodness of God.

Now maybe what you're believing for is taking longer than you thought. You don't see how it can happen. Thoughts are whispering. You're wasting your time. It's never going to work out. Instead of going from I believe to I gave up, I got discouraged, nothing was happening. I had setbacks. Do like Abraham.

Go from I believe to I still believe. The odds are against me, but I still believe I can accomplish my dreams. Had this illness a long time, but I still believe I can get well. I was raised in dysfunction, a rough environment, but I still believe I can live an abundant, victorious life. I still believe I can break limitations of the past. I still believe I can set a new standard. Before you see the promise, the healing, the dream, you're going to have a reason to quit believing.

I was going after my dream, but these people walked away. They didn't keep their word. That's a test. Are you going to give up? Or are you going to say, it wasn't fair? They did me wrong, but God is my vindicator. They didn't stop my purpose. What was meant for my harm, God is turning to my advantage.

I still believe. Well, Joel, we were trying to have a baby. The experts said there's no way. We took the treatments, nothing more we can do. You're at a critical point. Are you going to settle there? think it's not meant to be, or are you going to say, God, I know you're the giver of all good gifts. You have the final say, I don't see a way, but I know you have a way. I still believe.

A friend of mine wanted to start a business. He knew God put the dream in his heart, and he'd done a lot of research, came up with a very impressive business plan. He needed funding. He went to his bank where he had done projects with them before, and he knew all the people. They studied. his plan and turned him down. They didn't think it would be a successful business. He was disappointed, but he went to another bank. Same thing. He was turned down.

And another and another and another. Thoughts were telling him, just accept it. It's not going to happen. All the experts say it's not going to work out. He could have been discouraged, given up, but every time he left a bank, his attitude was, they may have said no, but I know God says yes. still believe. 31 bank said, it's not a good idea. Give up on your dream. Let it go. He said,

no, thanks. I still believe. Bank number 32 said, this looks like a great idea. They gave him the loan. Today he's blessed beyond his wildest dreams. His business has grown, even expanded into different states. If you're going to see the fullness of what God has for you, you have to learn this principle to go from, I believe, to I still believe. There will be people that try to talk you out of your promise. They can't see what God put in your heart. Don't expect everyone to be for you.

Sometimes it's our own thoughts that tell us it's not going to happen, how it will never work out. Tune that out. Don't give the doubt the time of day. Keep your mind filled with faith, filled with hope. The scripture says, Jesus couldn't do any miracles in his hometown because of their unbelief.

Doubt will keep you from your destiny. There's a battle taking place in our mind. Thoughts whispering, you're not going to get well. You'll never beat the right person. You can't pass that college course. If you dwell on those thoughts, you'll get talked out of what you're believing for. I was out riding my bike recently,

and it was a beautiful day. I was enjoying the ride when I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket. It was a text from a number that I didn't recognize. It said, urgent message, your phone has been compromised. All the data is about to be lost. Click here to save it. I knew it was a scam. If you click it, they get your information, didn't pay any attention,

went back on my ride. About five minutes later, another text. This time the word urgent was blinking. Time is of the essence. You must respond now. It looks so official, was so alive. alarming. I thought, is this real? I called my office. They said, no, no, don't open it. It's a scam. I felt better. Got back on my bike. Five minutes later, another text. This time there was a countdown

clock. 59, 58, 57. Your phone is about to disintegrate. The world will come to an end if you don't click now. All these dire warnings. They were so good at being alarming and playing on fears and putting enough urgency that makes you think you have to click. Their whole goal is to get you to take the bait. They know if you click, they can get your information, do what they want. That's kind of how doubt works. Thoughts come to our mind that are negative, discouraging, alarming. You can't accomplish that dream.

You don't have the talent. That problem will never resolve. You've had it so long. Your health is not going to improve. if you click on it, so to speak, if you start dwelling on it, thinking maybe, I'm not going to get well. These problems are so big. I don't see how it can work out. Before long, that's going to contaminate your software.

You'll be negative, discouraged, giving up on dreams. Don't take the bait. It's a scam. Those are lies to try to defraud you out of your purpose, to try to keep you from seeing the awesome things that God has in store. You can't stop the negative thoughts from coming, but you don't have to click. You don't have to dwell on them. While you're waiting on the promise, the enemy will work overtime. It would have happened by now.

Look at all you've been through. Don't get your hopes up, Abraham. You must have heard God wrong. You're a hundred years old. Do yourself a favor. Ignore it. Don't pay it any attention. When the lies come, just say no thanks.

I still believe. but the odds are against you, yes, but I still believe. It's been so long. You should be worried. It's not going to work out. Don't click on that. That's spam. That's junk mail. Keep your mind filled with faith. God is still on the throne. He's ordering your steps. He's planned out your days for good. What he started, he's going to finish. You can say like David, though I am surrounded by trouble, my heart will know no fear. For the Lord is my love. light and my salvation. For surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. Clear out all the negative. God didn't bring you this far to leave you. Yes, we're going to have

disappointments, things we don't understand, may be taken longer than we thought, but that doesn't mean that it's not going to happen. I talked to a lady that was diagnosed with cancer of the central nervous system. The prognosis was very grim. With no treatment, a few months to live, with treatment, maybe a couple of years at most. She'd lost all of her ability to function. She couldn't swallow, had to have constant care. All the facts said she was done. It was just a matter of time. But this lady had I still believe faith. Despite how it looked in the natural, in her thoughts all through the day, God is restoring health back into me. nothing can snatch me out of his hands. I will live and not die. She wasn't denying the facts. She was

simply choosing to believe what God said about her. She took the treatment. After six sessions, she was declared cancer-free. Her doctor said in 25 years of practice, he had never seen anyone recover like she did. What you're facing is not too hard for our God. No problem. He can't turn around. No dream that he can't bring to pass. And the scripture said, Abraham had unwavering faith. That means you're not going to be talked out of what God put in your heart.

You're not moved by what's not happening. By how long it's taking, by the setbacks, you have a made-up mind. You believe that God is in control and that what he promised will come to pass. No person can stop him. No bad break, no delay, no sickness, all the forces of darkness cannot keep you from your destiny.

When you not only believe, but you take it one step further, you still believe, you believe despite the medical report, despite the bad break, despite how impossible it looks, then you're going to see God do unusual, uncommon things. He's going to take you where you can't go on your own. It's very powerful when you have, I still believe faith. I lost a loved one. I should be bitter. I still believe there are beauty for these ashes. I've had some bad breaks, disappointments, but I still believe my latter days will be better than my former days. I still believe God's plans for me are for good. Numbers chapter 13, Moses sent

12 men to spy out the promised land. God had delivered the Israelites from slavery, parted the red seed, brought them safely through the desert. Now they were camp next door to the promised land. After 40 days, 10 of the spies came back and said, Moses, the land is beautiful. It's like nothing we've ever seen, but there are giants in the land. The people are huge. We'll never defeat them. Up to that point, they had believed. They were excited. They knew that was their dream coming to pass. but when they saw the obstacles, how big the people were, instead of making the choice that I'm asking us to make, we still believe. They got discouraged and gave up on their dream. That negative report spread throughout the whole camp. Before long, all two million people were afraid, complaining. They turned around and went back into the desert. They ended up wandering there for 40 years. They never did make it into the promised land. Before you see dreams come to pass, before you see healing, promotion, restoration, don't be surprised if you find giants on your land. Obstacles, disappointments, setbacks, looks too big. How could you defeat the sickness? The report came back worse.

How could you accomplish the dream? You lost your main client. You thought that person was the right one. It didn't work out. That's a test. are you going to do like them, get discouraged, settle where you are, or are you going to have, I still believe, faith? You have to say like Paul, none of these things move me. God wouldn't have brought you to it if he wasn't going to bring you through it. He's in control. What you're facing may be bigger than you, but it's not bigger than our God. Greater is he that's in you than he that's coming against you. This is not the time to give up, turn around, start complaining. This is the time to show God what you're made of. Yes, it looks impossible. I didn't see it coming. I don't know how it can work out, but God, I still believe. I know you're still on the throne.

You make rivers in the desert. You resurrect what looks dead. You surround me with your favor. You being for me is more than the world being against me. Don't be intimidated by the opposition. that's a sign that you're close to your victory. There will always be giants on your promised land. Always some reason to retreat. Don't take the bait. In the face of the giant, dare to say, I still believe. The medical report didn't improve, I still believe.

Your family member has gotten worse. I still believe. You do your part and God will bring the giants down. He'll take care of what's trying to stop you. The other two spies, Joshua and Caleb saw the same giants, the same obstacles, but they had, I still believe, faith. They said, yes, Moses, the giants are big. Yes, they're powerful, but we are well able. Let us go in at once and take the land. Out of those two million people, they were the only two that ever made it into the promised land.

This shows us, when you have I still believe faith, you're the exception. Most people, are going to get discouraged. Most people are going to quit believing when they see giants. Ten spies had faith and gave up. Two had faith and kept believing. My challenge is don't be a part of the 80%, be a part of the 20%. Be the exception. It's easy to get talked out of your dreams. It's easy to dwell on the negative, how big the obstacle is, how it's never going to work out. doubters or a dime a dozen. If you're going to see the fullness of your destiny, you have to be a Joshua, be a Caleb.

You don't deny the facts, but you're not moved by the facts. In the face of the giants, you declare, I still believe. If you'll do this, I believe and declare, you're going to make it into your promised land. What God put in your heart is on the way. Dreams are coming to pass. Problems are turning around. Healing is coming.

favor, restoration, breakthroughs, new levels of your destiny in Jesus name. 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. We'd love to send you some new information on your new walk with the Lord.

Just text the number on the screen or go to the website. I hope you'll get into a good Bible-based church and keep God first place. Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. Help us to continue to share the message of hope with those all around the world. Visit Joel Osteen.com or click the link in the description to partner with you. us today. We hope you'll share this message with a friend and be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you next time.