Joel Osteen Podcast - Let Go of The Small Things

Episode Date: August 20, 2019

So many people focus on what they don't have instead of what they do have. We have to remember to take a step back and look at all the wonderful blessings that surround us! Don't let little imperfections steal your joy and rob the beauty of the moments God has given. 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.

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Purdue's online university for working adults Start your comeback at PurdueGlobal.edu He'll forget about the video game you gave him on his birthday. Wow, thanks, Grandpa. But he'll never forget how you invested in his future with the UNEST app. Wow, thanks, Grandpa. The UNEST app makes it easy for grandparents and family friends

to give funds to a child's investment account for limited time. Download the UNEST app and use the code IHeart50 at Sign Up to receive a $50 bonus when you fund your account. That's code IHeart50 when you sign up at UNEST.co for a $50 bonus. See terms and conditions at UNES. See you. Hi, this is Victoria. Thank you so much for downloading this podcast. I believe God has amazing things in your future. I hope you enjoy this message. How many of you guys know that sometimes the smallest thing can just irritate you? Things that really don't matter in the long run.

I was with a girlfriend of mine several years ago and she was showing me her vacation photo. I hate to date this, but it's when we used to go get them at Walgreens. She said, I just picked up my vacation photos. Let's look at them. So I said, okay, and so we began to look at this beautiful pictures of blue skies, sandy beaches, all these cute little shops at the port, just so much fun. And we're looking, and I noticed she was getting a little more irritated, and she was going through the pictures more quickly.

And I was like, okay, okay, you know, I was going to kind of really. check them out and talk about it, then all of a sudden I noticed she began to say, I look terrible in that picture. I don't like that picture. I'm not wearing that outfit again. It doesn't photograph well. And she began to pick herself apart in these pictures. See, it went from enjoying her vacation to looking at something about herself that I couldn't even see. You see, sometimes we forget the big picture. We forget to look at the blue skies, the sandy beaches, the smiling faces, our children, because we see that speck on the picture. And that's all we focus on. You see, her memory all of a sudden became negative. Think about Adam and Eve. They were in a beautiful

garden, lush, green garden. They had fruit. They could eat all they want, never gained any weight, no laundry. They were in this amazing God-given garden. And one day, Eve got her eye on a single bush, a single bush in the garden. The only bush she was asked not to touch. And that day, that bush became the biggest thing that she saw. In fact, that bush was so big, it distorted. the whole view of the garden. You see, that bush was a speck on the picture. She didn't see the

whole picture because all she could see is what she didn't have. Listen, let's don't see the specs in our life. Let's begin to see the whole picture. What we do have, let's don't let a bush distort this amazing life God has given us, the relationships that we're we have? Because in the long run, it really doesn't matter. I think we could all say if we step back that we've seen some specs that mess some things up for us. We've focused on some things that we didn't have and we forgot to see all the great things that we do have. Listen, I don't want to live in regret. Do you? I want to enjoy what God has given me right now. The beauty of the moment. I think about my friend. And today, I bet if she pulls those same pictures out, she's going to go,

I look pretty good in those pictures. You know, sometimes when the years go by, you don't look as bad as she thought you did. When my kids were very young, we were at the old building, and it was an Easter Sunday, and everyone was dressed up. You know, all the family was there, the cousins, the aunts, the uncles, you know, the grandmothers. Everyone was there and looking so good. know, we were all there together. And I remember thinking, I want to get a Easter picture. Everybody's so cute, all the little outfits the kids had on. And about the time, we could round everybody up to get this Easter picture.

We're placing everybody. I look, and there's my two little kids, they had changed out of their Easter clothes and put on their play clothes. They're standing there with some shorts and a raggy old T-shirt and some tennis shoes. And I'm like looking at them, and it was enough to. just getting everyone rounded up. There wasn't time for me to go, change them, and bring them back. And I remember thinking, I am so frustrated. You see, because I wanted this picture to be perfect. It had to be my way. It was my picture. Let me tell you what, that picture is one of my most treasured possessions today. One of my most treasured possessions. But at the time, all I saw were those

khaki shorts and tennis shoes and green t-shirt that I did not want in my picture. See, we need to step back. We need to remember what life is about. It's about God's goodness. It's about our family. It's about the big picture. So often we want it to be perfect. We want it to go our way. And when it slightly takes a curve, it messes everything out. But that's not the case. It really doesn't mess everything up. And we've got to remember, you see, my little kids, they had no idea.

They had no idea. They're just kids. You see, I would rather have a good relationship with my kids than to be all upset with them. Let me tell you what, they're in college now. I would give anything to just have a picture with them today. You know, I don't care what they're. they're wearing. I really don't. Have you ever wanted things so perfect and it didn't go your way? I know a lot of mothers can relate to this. We want our kids' birthday parties to be spectacular.

We want Spider-Man there on time. We want the princess coming with the right clothes on. We want everything perfect. We get so uptight planning and anticipating. We forget who we're celebrating. We don't even relax and realize this is my child's birthday. I'm going to enjoy this birthday party and celebrate them. Listen, everything doesn't have to be perfect before you enjoy your life. Let's don't look at the spec. Let's step back and see the big picture. This holiday season, we're all busy.

There's a lot going on. Let's make memories that will last and that we can enjoy for our life. time, okay? All right, that's so good. Praise you, Jesus. We are going to see the big picture. Thank you for listening to the Joel Osteen podcast. Help us continue to share the message of hope with those all over the world. Visit joelosteen.com slash give hope to give a gift today. Thanks for listening to the podcast. Be sure to subscribe so you can get all of the latest messages. Know that we pray for you. God bless you. More than ever before, people are trying to do that.

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