Joel Osteen Podcast - Let It Go | Joel Osteen

Episode Date: June 17, 2024

If you're going to fulfill your destiny, you have to learn to let the negative things go. God knows how to redeem everything you’ve been through. 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.It’s Time to Dream Again. The dreams God has placed deep inside of you are powerful indicators of what He created you to be and do in this life. Our June offer will help you get your dream back and rediscover the deepest desires of your heart. Request your copy today, https://bit.ly/3V83i66.   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 so much for listening to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We believe you're going to have an awesome 2024, healthy, productive, and favor-filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. God bless you. It's great to be with you. I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week. Through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, we'll keep you encouraged and inspire.

I like to start with something funny and I heard about the day. These two brothers, they were known for being very dishonest, having no integrity. They were very wealthy. One of them died. His brother said to the pastor, I'll make a deal with you. If you'll say at the funeral that my brother was a saint, I'll make a large donation to your church. The pastor agreed. The man made the donation.

At the funeral, the pastor said, this man was dishonest. He cheated, lied, stole. But compared to his brother, he was a saint. 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 let it go.

We all go through disappointments and things that are not fair. and it's easy to hold on to the hurts and think about what they said and relive the offense. We get up in the morning and it's the first thing that comes to mind. We don't realize how much that's affecting us, souring our attitude, draining our energy, limiting our creativity. If you're going to fulfill your destiny, you have to get good at letting things go. Jesus said offenses will come. He didn't say they might come.

if you're a good person, if you're nice, nobody will do you wrong. He said, disappointments will come. Betrayals, things that are not fair, will come. How you deal with these offenses, how you handle the hurts, will determine whether you move forward and see the new things God has in store or whether you get stuck bitter over what didn't work out. I've heard it said, if you don't heal from emotional wounds, you will bleed on people, that had nothing to do with it. How many people are living wounded over how they were raised,

a friend that walked away, business partner that cheated them? Instead of letting it go, they replay it in their mind. We live all the hurt. They wonder why they don't have good relationships. It's because they haven't healed. They're living out of a wounded place. God brings a new person, somebody great, but they're so insecure. They don't feel valuable, attractive. This new person has to keep them fixed. Go overboard to make sure they know how great they are. The problem is that's not sustainable until you get well. Until you let go of what didn't work out, not carry the hurt,

that wound is going to hinder you wherever you go. If you're still wounded over a position you lost, you'll go to that new company, defensive, on edge, not friendly. You're treating them based on what you've been through. but they had nothing to do with it. It's much more freeing when you learn to let things go. It wasn't fair. That's okay.

God will be your vindicator. He'll take care of who did you wrong. It's not your job to pay people back. They hurt you once. Don't let them continue to hurt you by holding on to it. You lost a loved one. I know that's painful. It's okay to go through a season of mourning,

but you can't hold on to the hurt. living in mourning is going to keep the new doors from opening. You have to heal so you can see the new relationships, the new opportunities. In the scripture, Peter asked Jesus how often he should forgive someone that did him wrong. It's funny because Peter was known to be offensive. He's the one that cursed out the young lady when Jesus was arrested. He cut off a soldier's ear defending Jesus. He said, Jesus, should I forgive them seven times?

The Jewish law said three times. He more than doubled it. He thought, Jesus, I'm growing. I'm come a long way. Jesus said, Peter, seven is good, but I want you to forgive them 70 times seven. It wasn't really about the number. Jesus was showing us a principle.

He was saying, I want you to live in a continual process of forgiveness. Not something you do every once in a while, but on a daily basis, forgiveness. should be a part of our life. He was setting a system in place so we wouldn't hold on to the hurts, offenses, disappointments. He knew that practically every day

we would have these opportunities. The quicker you let things go, the easier it is. In the Lord's prayer, Jesus told us to pray, give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others.

He was saying every day we should be ready to be. forgive. Doesn't have to be big things. That man that cut you off in traffic, let it go. Don't let that sour your day. Your time is valuable. That's a distraction trying to get you off course, offended over something that doesn't matter. That clerk that's rude to you at the grocery store, just smile and move on. I've learned life is full of wounded people, people that haven't dealt with the negative things in their past. At times, they'll be disresuous. And at times they'll be disrespectful, they'll say things they shouldn't, do things that are hurtful. You can't stop the offense

from coming, but you can keep it from getting down in you. How much time are you spending offended, bitter, holding a grudge? How much more could you accomplish if you would start letting things go? How much better relationships would you have if you would get emotionally healthy? If you would let go of what people said, forgive the person that did you wrong, quit, living the hurts? This is where David in the scripture excelled. He was an expert at letting things go. As a teenager, his father didn't really believe in him. He looked down on David, didn't affirm him. When the prophet Samuel came to his father's house to choose one of the sons as the next king of Israel, his father didn't call David in from the shepherd's fields. He thought he was too small,

too young, not that talented. He didn't give him a chance. It was only after Samuel didn't choose one of the other sons that David was called in. David could have lived bitter, chip on his shoulder. He felt the sting of rejection from his own family. His brothers made fun of him. When David took them lunch out on the battlefield, his oldest brother in front of all the soldiers tried to belittle him.

He said, David, what are you doing here? What'd you do with those few sheep you're supposed to be taking care of? He was condescending, sarcastic. David could have been upset, offended, but the scripture says David turned and walked away. He knew the importance of letting things go. Had David not done this, he would have never seen Goliath. Had he stayed there and tried to straighten out his brother, we wouldn't be talking about him. And the truth is, David's father wasn't fair.

That wasn't right to leave him out in the fields. His brother's word demeaning, belittling, but you can't make people do what's right. It's a test. Are you holding on to the offense? Let the betrayal what they said, how they treated you caused you to be sour, wake up thinking about it, or are you going to let it go and move forward into your destiny? There's a Goliath waiting for you, a new level past the offense, past the rejection, past what they said.

My prayer is that we will do like David and live with this perpetual forgiveness that we'll develop a habit of forgiving daily. When offenses come, they bounce off of us like water up of a duck's back. Family member doesn't believe in you. That's unfortunate, but that's not going to keep you from doing great things.

Co-worker tries to make you look bad, embarrass you. Most people would be upset. start a fight, pay them back, but you're a David. You recognize that's a distraction. You let it go knowing that God will take care of your enemies. One way God vindicates you is he promotes you in the presence of your enemies. He doesn't do it in private, but in public so that those that left you out, discounted you, tried to make you feel small, they will see you promoted, honored in a position of greater influence.

When David defeated Goliath, the whole army was in all. The city was cheering. Even the Philistines, the opposition, couldn't believe what David had done. God knows how to lift you up when people try to push you down. Don't let that offense in. Start letting things go quickly. Don't think about it a week and then you'll do it. You won't have to get over so many emotional wounds if you don't let the offense in

in the first place. If David would have woken up each morning, thought about his father mistreated him, why did he leave me out, how his brothers were demeaning, that bitterness, the anger, the self-pity would have stopped his destiny. When the offense comes up, don't go there. Keep your mind on the positive. Think on things that are good, wholesome, uplifting. It's not doing anything productive to think about something negative that was said about you. relive how the person walked away, rehearse all the pain, go back over all the sorrow, that's going to keep you from healing, let it go.

That's in the past. God saw what happened. He heard what they said. He knows what you lost. If you will let it go, he'll make it up to you. He'll give you beauty for those ashes. A friend of mine grew up in a single parent home.

At five years old, his father walked out of his life and wouldn't have anything to do. do with him. As a little boy, he longed to see his dad, but he wouldn't return the mother's call. In his teens, he would send letters to his father, birthday cards, happy father's day. He wanted his father's approval so badly just to know that he cared, but he never heard a word. He felt the rejection. Thoughts told him he wasn't good enough. There was something wrong with him, but he didn't go there. He didn't let the bitterness in, the self-pity. He didn't. He didn't let the bitterness in, the self-pity. He said what the psalmist said, even if my mother and father forsake me,

God will adopt me as his very own child. When you live in a state of perpetual forgiveness, it's amazing how despite the injustice, despite how unfair it is, you'll still be happy. You'll still enjoy your life. You'll still do great things. When he was in his 30s, his father finally agreed to see him. He was so excited. It was a dream come true. He flew to another city, knocked on the door. A lady answered and said, I'm sorry, your father has changed his mind. He's not going to see you. I thought he would be devastated. He said, Joel, it didn't really bother me. I had already prepared, if he wouldn't see me, I was going to let it go and move on. It has not stopped this young man. He has four beautiful children. He's happily married. He's happily married. He's going to. He's going to

married, very successful. I would have never known he didn't have an amazing childhood. When you learn to let things go, disappointments can't stop you. Unfair people, how you were raised, bad breaks, you'll keep rising higher seeing the goodness of God. I've met other people that have been through things like my friend. They're bitter, angry, chip on their shoulder, stuck in life. what's the difference they hold on to everything you can't stop it from coming but you can keep the poison from getting on the inside when you bury negative emotions they never die you can't bottle up the anger the hurt the betrayal and think that's not going to affect you and Joel i can't forgive them you don't know what they did i can't let it go they hurt me too badly you're not doing it for their sake

you're doing it for your same. That poison is contaminating your life. When you release it, you'll step into new levels of freedom, joy, and victory. There was a professional boxer back in the 1990s, and he was known for his aggressiveness in the ring. He fought with such anger and viciousness, almost like he was out of control.

For years, he was the middleweight champion of the world, very successful. After one fight, a reporter asked him why he fought with such aggression, how he could be that driven. The reporter was expecting a standard answer, like, I'm just very competitive and I love to box. But he told the reason he fought with such anger, such hostility, was because his father was abusive. He mistreated his mother, fought with her. Their home was very violent.

He told this son how he would never amount to anything. At 10 years old, the father abandoned the family, never. ever saw him again. He said, when I step in the ring, I picture my father's face on my opponent. I have so much hatred toward him, I just explode. I thought about the difference between my friend and this boxer. Both had betrayals. Both had rejection. But one is living healthy, great children, being blessed. The other is angry, violent, bitter. The difference is one learned to let things go. Others chose to hold on. And yes, this boxer had success on the outside, but if you're poisoned on the inside,

it's going to spoil every victory. Is there something you need to let go of? Bitterness, anger, how someone treated you, what didn't work out? Don't do like him and let that poison the rest of your life. It wasn't right what they did, but you're forgiving so you can be free. You're letting it go so you can see the. beauty for ashes. Years ago, there was this toxic waste that needed to be discarded, but nobody knew what to do with it. They had never had to get rid of something that dangerous and that

toxic. After studying it, getting different opinions, a company built these big metal containers like you see on a ship, and they put the toxic waste in it. They went to great lengths to make sure it was sealed very tightly and wouldn't get out. Then they buried these containers. deep in the ground. They were so relieved, they finally got rid of it. They thought they were done, but 40 years later, the containers started leaking. It was contaminating the soil, water, air, people had to move away. The problem was the waste was too toxic to bury. There are some things you can't bury. You can't bury anger and think it's not going to affect you. You can't bury bitterness and not have it leak out.

You can't bury hatred, rejection. That's too toxic. That poison at some point will contaminate not just your dreams, your attitude, your vision, but it will affect the people around you. Best thing you can do is to get that toxic waste out of you.

Let it go. You have to give it to God. God, I forgive them for what they did. I let go of the hurts. What I lost, what I didn't get, I trust you to make it up to me. This company never dreamed years later they would be dealing with the same problem

but this time it would be worse. If they had disposed of it properly the first time, they wouldn't have this difficulty. When you bury negative feelings, they never die. Like toxic waste, they're going to resurface through your attitude, through your relationships. The good news is it's not too late to do something about it.

You don't have to live with that contamination on the inside. Let it go. Forgive the person that hurt you. Forgive the parent for what they didn't give you. Let go of the disappointment, the dream that didn't work out. Let go of the guilt, the shame, the regret, the remorse. You can't keep that bottled up and reach your potential. David went to the palace to work as one of King Saul's armor bearing.

Saul was proud of David, loved him like a son, but over time Saul became jealous of David. He could see the anointing and favor on David's life. Instead of being happy for him, he wanted to get rid of him. While David was playing the heart for Saul, trying to make Saul feel better, Saul through his spirit, David, and barely missed him. David had to flee for his life. He had done nothing but good for Saul, honored him, served him, but in return, Saul tried to kill him. David spent months living on the run, hiding in caves with Saul and his men

chasing after him. At one point, David could have killed Saul. He snuck up on Saul and his men while they were sleeping, but he wouldn't harm him. Despite David being good to Saul, Saul never changed his mind. He wouldn't have him back in the palace. Several years later, Saul was killed in a battle. David was made the king. When David heard that Saul, was gone, you would think he would be so happy, so relieved. Finally, this man that made his life miserable caused him heartache where he couldn't pursue his dreams was no longer there. Surely David would call his men together, have a big party. But the scripture says David wept when he learned Saul was killed. He wrote a song honoring him saying, how beloved and how gracious was Saul. No wonder David

rose so high, he learned to let things go. Can you imagine writing a song about your biggest enemy, the one that tried to keep you down about how beloved they are? A key to David's success is he didn't let the toxins get on the inside. He didn't bury the things that weren't fair. The anger, the hurt, the injustice, he turned it over to God. Even years later, he was sitting in the palace, the greatest leader of that day, maybe of any day, having conquered all kinds of territory, seen God's favor in great ways. He said to his staff, is there anyone still alive from the house of Saul that I can bless? He still had no bitterness towards Saul. He's still being good to a man that wasn't good to him. Who knows where God will take you if you'll just let things go?

When you have every right to be angry, bitter, hold on to the hurt. they left you, you lost someone valuable. I'm not saying it's easy, but it's more difficult to deal with the toxins on the inside than it is to let things go. It's not always easy to forgive, but it's harder to deal with the poison of unforgiveness. It's not easy to move forward after a disappointment, but it's harder to stay stuck in defeat and mediocrity. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich was the Hall of Fame coach of the Houston Rocketson, also a great professional basketball player himself. When he was 25 years old, in the middle of a game, a fight broke out between two players. Rudy ran over to break them up. One of the players turned and threw a punch without looking

as hard as he could. Just so happened, Rudy was running up full speed. The punch hit him square in the face. It became known as the punch hurt around the world. fractured his skull, broke his nose and cheekbones. He had spinal fluid leaking out, almost took his life. Months later, while he was recovering, he was asked about the man that hit him and what he thought. Everyone was waiting his response. Surely he'd be angry, bitter, this is not right. Rudy didn't miss a beat. He told how he had already forgiven him that he wasn't angry or upset. The reporters were puzzled. They said, this man almost ended your life. He put you through all this pain.

How could you possibly forgive him? Rudy said, I knew the only way I could move forward was to let it go. I didn't forgive just for his sake. I did it so that I could be free. Maybe you've had bad breaks. You weren't treated right. It wasn't fair. I'm not asking you to do the other person a favor.

I'm asking you to do yourself a favor. forgive so you can be free. Forgive so you can reach your potential. Forgive so you can see the beauty for ashes. Don't bury the toxins. Don't bury what they did. Those negative feelings are alive. They can't be contained.

You have to give it to God. Trust him to make it up to you. You weren't created to live with poisons, weighing you down, contaminating your vision. You will rise so much higher if you'll get free from that. David had another great disappointment. His newborn baby became very sick. He went home and prayed and fasted,

asked God to heal his child. For seven days he wouldn't eat. He didn't see anyone. He was consumed with this baby, believing that God would give him a miracle. Unfortunately, the baby died. His men were so concerned that when they told David that he might fall apart,

they didn't know what to do. David overheard and asked what was wrong. When he found out the baby died, he got up off the floor. The scripture says he went home, washed his face, dressed in new clothes, then he went to the table and ate a meal. His men were so surprised. They said, David, when the baby was alive, you were so distraught. But now that the baby is gone, you seem like you're fine.

David said, I cannot bring the baby back, but one day I can't. go to be where he is. David could have been better. God, why didn't you answer my prayer? God, I've served you. I did the right thing when Saul was chasing me. I've tried to honor you. And now this happened? No, David knew to let it go. I don't understand it. It wasn't fair. But God, you're still on the throne. I know you still have good things in store for me. There's a lot in life we're not going to understand. You get caught up in the wise. Part of faith, is trusting when it doesn't make sense. A year later, David's wife had another baby.

They named him Solomon. He became the king after David, the heir to the throne, and the wisest man that ever lived. Had David stayed in despair, had he not washed his face, let go of the disappointment, he would have never seen the king that was coming. In difficult times, when you don't understand, you could be bitter.

If you'll just let it go and keep trusting God, like David, you'll give birth to a king, something greater than what you've imagined, something where you don't think about what you've lost. I heard a story about an eagle. It swooped down and picked up a mole off the ground, grabbed it with his talons, and held it close to its chest.

This was unusual because an eagle wouldn't normally pick up a mole. They eat fish and other things. As the eagle was flying, holding this mole so close, it began to get tired, started getting weaker, flew lower and lower, finally had to land. On the ground, the eagle lost all of its strength, fell over and died. The little mole scurried away unharmed. It's very puzzling. A veterinarian discovered that the mole had very suddenly bit into the eagle's chest. The eagle couldn't feel it, but it punctured the eagle's heart and caused it to lose blood pressure

and eventually pass. Are you holding on to something that you don't realize is killing you? Anger, bitterness, guilt, shame. That's draining the life out of you. That's taking your joy, your peace, your creativity. How much higher could you fly?

How much further could you go if you got rid of these things that you're not supposed to be carrying? And today can be a turning point. You know what's more powerful than negative emotions? A decision. When you let it go, when you wash your face, when you say like Rudy T, I forgive, then you're moving toward the king that's in your future.

You may have buried some toxins. You may be carrying some things that you shouldn't. That's okay. You can release them right now. This is your time to be free. If you'll do this, I believe and declare. You're about to soar to new heights. New doors are about to open.

New friendships, healing, restoration, breakthroughs, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus' 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.

Love to send you some new information on your walk with the Lord. Just text the number on the screen. I hope you'll get into a good Bible-based church and keep God first place. God has put a specific dream in your heart. Maybe it's a dream for a better career, a blessing that enables you to bless others, to be in a healthy, loving relationship, to launch your own business or ministry endeavor.

We all have dreams, but sometimes setbacks and opposition can rob us of our dreams. So how do you make your dreams a reality? One way you know it's a God-given dream is you can't accomplish it on your own. We never thought we'd be having church in a former basketball arena, but this is what can happen when you take the limits off of God. When you believe what God put in your heart,

That's when he steps in and makes ways where you never saw ways. I'd love to send you my newest book. It's time to dream again. It'll help you to hold on to what God promised and not get discouraged by how impossible it looks or how long it's taking. You are closer than you think. God's working behind the scenes right now. Stay in faith.

You're going to see the greatness of God bring your dreams to pass. As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount to the ministry this month, Joel and Victoria would like to send you this dream-releasing, life-affirming book. It's time to dream again. You might sense that your dreams have been buried. But with this book, you'll see that they are actually a hidden treasure, just waiting to be uncovered and come to life. God's plan for you is significant.

His dreams for you are beyond what you could imagine. Don't wait another day. It's time to dream again. This book will help you gain a fresh perspective for your dreams and to believe for everything God is put in your heart. Victoria and I pray for you and your family every day. Thank you so much for your prayer and support. Your generosity is making a difference around the world.

Remember, you can watch the services live online every Sunday, download the daily podcast or our YouTube channel, listen on SiriusXM. We will keep you encouraged and inspired. But until we meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you. Be sure to request your copy of It's Time to Dream Again. Today, visit Joel Osteen.com or call 888-567 Joel.