Joel Osteen

Joel Osteen - Dealing With Ugly Situations

May 22, 2026 | 27:29

Joel and Victoria Osteen's message of unconditional love and unending hope reaches everyone across the world.

#Struggle #Denominations #Future #Miracles #Healing #Victory #Tradition #Discouragement #Prayer #Love #Strength #JoelOsteen

Closed captions

Show Timecode

Joel Osteen | Joel Osteen - Dealing With Ugly Situations | May 22, 2026

Joel: god bless you. it's
00:00:11.935 --> 00:00:13.169
Joel: god bless you. it's great to be with you today.
00:00:13.236 --> 00:00:14.971
Great to be with you today. i hope you'll stay connected
00:00:15.038 --> 00:00:16.406
I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week,
00:00:16.473 --> 00:00:17.974
With us during the week, through our daily podcast,
00:00:18.041 --> 00:00:19.442
Through our daily podcast, our youtube channel, social
00:00:19.509 --> 00:00:20.777
Our youtube channel, social media. and you can come visit
00:00:20.844 --> 00:00:22.512
Media. and you can come visit us in person. we'd love to
00:00:22.579 --> 00:00:24.414
Us in person. we'd love to have you be a part of one
00:00:24.481 --> 00:00:25.515
Have you be a part of one of our services.
00:00:25.582 --> 00:00:27.150
Of our services. i like to start with
00:00:27.217 --> 00:00:27.884
I like to start with something funny. i heard
00:00:27.951 --> 00:00:29.319
Something funny. i heard about this man; he was the
00:00:29.385 --> 00:00:30.920
About this man; he was the only protestant in a large
00:00:30.987 --> 00:00:32.922
Only protestant in a large catholic neighborhood. every
00:00:32.989 --> 00:00:35.058
Catholic neighborhood. every friday during lent, while his
00:00:35.125 --> 00:00:37.127
Friday during lent, while his neighbors were eating cold
00:00:37.193 --> 00:00:38.328
Neighbors were eating cold fish, he was grilling a steak
00:00:38.394 --> 00:00:40.296
Fish, he was grilling a steak in his backyard. they
00:00:40.363 --> 00:00:41.965
In his backyard. they couldn't stand the temptation
00:00:42.031 --> 00:00:43.399
Couldn't stand the temptation and decided to try to convert
00:00:43.466 --> 00:00:45.201
And decided to try to convert him to catholicism. he
00:00:45.268 --> 00:00:46.870
Him to catholicism. he finally agreed. a priest came
00:00:46.936 --> 00:00:49.205
Finally agreed. a priest came over, sprinkled water on him,
00:00:49.272 --> 00:00:51.007
Over, sprinkled water on him, said, "you were born a
00:00:51.074 --> 00:00:51.774
Said, "you were born a baptist, you were raised a
00:00:51.841 --> 00:00:53.042
Baptist, you were raised a baptist, but now you're a
00:00:53.109 --> 00:00:54.377
Baptist, but now you're a catholic." the next year on
00:00:54.444 --> 00:00:56.613
Catholic." the next year on the first friday of lent,
00:00:56.679 --> 00:00:57.947
The first friday of lent, they smelled the same smell.
00:00:58.014 --> 00:00:59.916
They smelled the same smell. they rushed to his house. he
00:00:59.983 --> 00:01:01.451
They rushed to his house. he was in the backyard
00:01:01.518 --> 00:01:02.852
Was in the backyard sprinkling water over his
00:01:02.919 --> 00:01:04.154
Sprinkling water over his steak, saying, "you were born
00:01:04.220 --> 00:01:05.922
Steak, saying, "you were born a cow, you were raised a cow,
00:01:05.989 --> 00:01:07.657
A cow, you were raised a cow, but now you're a fish."
00:01:07.724 --> 00:01:10.593
But now you're a fish." all right, y'all. say it like
00:01:10.660 --> 00:01:12.362
All right, y'all. say it like you mean it. this is my
00:01:12.428 --> 00:01:13.930
You mean it. this is my bible. i am what it says i
00:01:13.997 --> 00:01:15.932
Bible. i am what it says i am. i have what it says i
00:01:15.999 --> 00:01:17.800
Am. i have what it says i have. i can do what it says i
00:01:17.867 --> 00:01:19.836
Have. i can do what it says i can do. today, i will be
00:01:19.903 --> 00:01:21.738
Can do. today, i will be taught the word of god. i
00:01:21.804 --> 00:01:23.606
Taught the word of god. i boldly confess: my mind is
00:01:23.673 --> 00:01:25.842
Boldly confess: my mind is alert. my heart is receptive.
00:01:25.909 --> 00:01:28.378
Alert. my heart is receptive. i will never be the same in
00:01:28.444 --> 00:01:30.346
I will never be the same in jesus' name. god bless you.
00:01:30.413 --> 00:01:34.150
Jesus' name. god bless you. i want to talk to you today
00:01:34.217 --> 00:01:35.285
I want to talk to you today about dealing with ugly
00:01:35.351 --> 00:01:36.920
About dealing with ugly situations. in life, we all
00:01:36.986 --> 00:01:39.756
Situations. in life, we all face the good, the bad and
00:01:39.822 --> 00:01:41.991
Face the good, the bad and the ugly. we love the good
00:01:42.058 --> 00:01:43.993
The ugly. we love the good times, where we're seeing
00:01:44.060 --> 00:01:45.528
Times, where we're seeing god's favor, doors are
00:01:45.595 --> 00:01:47.230
God's favor, doors are opening. we can handle the
00:01:47.297 --> 00:01:48.998
Opening. we can handle the bad. we didn't get the
00:01:49.065 --> 00:01:50.533
Bad. we didn't get the contract; a neighbor is
00:01:50.600 --> 00:01:52.202
Contract; a neighbor is talking about us. that's just
00:01:52.268 --> 00:01:54.003
Talking about us. that's just life happening. but there are
00:01:54.070 --> 00:01:55.972
Life happening. but there are some situations, the only way
00:01:56.039 --> 00:01:58.241
Some situations, the only way to describe them is ugly. an
00:01:58.308 --> 00:02:01.311
To describe them is ugly. an ugly medical report, we never
00:02:01.377 --> 00:02:03.646
Ugly medical report, we never thought we'd be facing this.
00:02:03.713 --> 00:02:05.448
Thought we'd be facing this. an ugly breakup, a person we
00:02:05.515 --> 00:02:07.550
An ugly breakup, a person we counted on walked away. an
00:02:07.617 --> 00:02:09.619
Counted on walked away. an ugly addiction. it's easy to
00:02:09.686 --> 00:02:11.721
Ugly addiction. it's easy to get discouraged and say, "god
00:02:11.788 --> 00:02:12.989
Get discouraged and say, "god where were you?" but god
00:02:13.056 --> 00:02:15.058
Where were you?" but god won't allow a difficulty if
00:02:15.124 --> 00:02:17.360
Won't allow a difficulty if he's not going to use it for
00:02:17.427 --> 00:02:18.761
He's not going to use it for your purpose. the scripture
00:02:18.828 --> 00:02:20.630
Your purpose. the scripture says, "everything is serving
00:02:20.697 --> 00:02:22.532
Says, "everything is serving his plan." not just the good
00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:24.567
His plan." not just the good times, the promotion, the
00:02:24.634 --> 00:02:26.402
Times, the promotion, the blessings, but even the ugly
00:02:26.469 --> 00:02:28.638
Blessings, but even the ugly times, when it's not fair,
00:02:28.705 --> 00:02:31.241
Times, when it's not fair, life throws us a curve. if
00:02:31.307 --> 00:02:33.443
Life throws us a curve. if you'll go through the
00:02:33.509 --> 00:02:34.277
You'll go through the suffering with the right
00:02:34.344 --> 00:02:35.445
Suffering with the right attitude, through that
00:02:35.511 --> 00:02:37.146
Attitude, through that hardship trusting that god's
00:02:37.213 --> 00:02:39.082
Hardship trusting that god's in control, then god will
00:02:39.148 --> 00:02:41.084
In control, then god will make something beautiful out
00:02:41.150 --> 00:02:42.885
Make something beautiful out of the ugly. you will go to
00:02:42.952 --> 00:02:44.854
Of the ugly. you will go to levels of your destiny that
00:02:44.921 --> 00:02:46.889
Levels of your destiny that you could have never reached
00:02:46.956 --> 00:02:48.524
You could have never reached by just living in the good
00:02:48.591 --> 00:02:49.792
By just living in the good times. these ugly seasons are
00:02:49.859 --> 00:02:52.195
Times. these ugly seasons are uncomfortable. we'd prefer to
00:02:52.262 --> 00:02:54.163
Uncomfortable. we'd prefer to never have to deal with it,
00:02:54.230 --> 00:02:56.099
Never have to deal with it, but they are necessary to
00:02:56.165 --> 00:02:57.734
But they are necessary to become all you were created
00:02:57.800 --> 00:02:59.535
Become all you were created to be.
00:02:59.602 --> 00:03:00.770
To be. you don't grow as much in the
00:03:00.837 --> 00:03:02.538
You don't grow as much in the good times. it's in the
00:03:02.605 --> 00:03:04.240
Good times. it's in the difficult times, you're
00:03:04.307 --> 00:03:05.508
Difficult times, you're stretched, your faith can
00:03:05.575 --> 00:03:07.443
Stretched, your faith can increase, your trust, your
00:03:07.510 --> 00:03:09.312
Increase, your trust, your endurance. david said, "god,
00:03:09.379 --> 00:03:12.315
Endurance. david said, "god, you enlarged me in my
00:03:12.382 --> 00:03:14.117
You enlarged me in my distress." not enlarged me
00:03:14.183 --> 00:03:16.486
Distress." not enlarged me when i was comfortable, when
00:03:16.552 --> 00:03:18.254
When i was comfortable, when everyone was celebrating me.
00:03:18.321 --> 00:03:20.356
Everyone was celebrating me. but you enlarged me when i
00:03:20.423 --> 00:03:22.325
But you enlarged me when i was chased by saul through
00:03:22.392 --> 00:03:23.826
Was chased by saul through the desert and i had done
00:03:23.893 --> 00:03:25.228
The desert and i had done nothing wrong. you enlarged
00:03:25.295 --> 00:03:27.430
Nothing wrong. you enlarged me when my own father didn't
00:03:27.497 --> 00:03:29.632
Me when my own father didn't think i would amount to
00:03:29.699 --> 00:03:30.400
Think i would amount to anything. you enlarged me
00:03:30.466 --> 00:03:32.802
Anything. you enlarged me when people i had been good
00:03:32.869 --> 00:03:34.404
When people i had been good to were slandering me, trying
00:03:34.470 --> 00:03:36.572
To were slandering me, trying to ruin my reputation. none
00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:39.242
To ruin my reputation. none of us like the ugly seasons,
00:03:39.309 --> 00:03:41.678
Of us like the ugly seasons, but that's when god does some
00:03:41.744 --> 00:03:43.179
But that's when god does some of his greatest work,
00:03:43.246 --> 00:03:44.881
Of his greatest work, preparing you for something
00:03:44.947 --> 00:03:46.516
Preparing you for something that you've never seen.
00:03:46.582 --> 00:03:48.418
That you've never seen. that's what happened with
00:03:48.484 --> 00:03:49.485
That's what happened with jacob. he had just moved to a
00:03:49.552 --> 00:03:51.321
Jacob. he had just moved to a new city and was working for
00:03:51.387 --> 00:03:53.323
New city and was working for his uncle, a man named laban.
00:03:53.389 --> 00:03:55.925
His uncle, a man named laban. laban had two daughters,
00:03:55.992 --> 00:03:57.527
Laban had two daughters, rachel and leah. rachel was
00:03:57.593 --> 00:04:00.363
Rachel and leah. rachel was extremely attractive. she was
00:04:00.430 --> 00:04:02.498
Extremely attractive. she was stunning. the scripture says,
00:04:02.565 --> 00:04:04.834
Stunning. the scripture says, "she was beautiful in every
00:04:04.901 --> 00:04:06.269
"she was beautiful in every way, with a lovely face and a
00:04:06.336 --> 00:04:08.738
Way, with a lovely face and a shapely figure." everyone
00:04:08.805 --> 00:04:11.040
Shapely figure." everyone admired her beauty. she was a
00:04:11.107 --> 00:04:12.909
Admired her beauty. she was a knockout. but her older
00:04:12.975 --> 00:04:15.111
Knockout. but her older sister leah, not so much.
00:04:15.178 --> 00:04:18.147
Sister leah, not so much. verse 17 says, "leah had weak
00:04:18.214 --> 00:04:21.017
Verse 17 says, "leah had weak eyes." one translation says
00:04:21.084 --> 00:04:23.486
Eyes." one translation says leah was dull looking. rachel
00:04:23.553 --> 00:04:26.255
Leah was dull looking. rachel got all this physical beauty,
00:04:26.322 --> 00:04:28.524
Got all this physical beauty, but leah was unattractive.
00:04:28.591 --> 00:04:30.626
But leah was unattractive. it's not often that the
00:04:30.693 --> 00:04:31.961
It's not often that the scripture describes someone's
00:04:32.028 --> 00:04:33.563
Scripture describes someone's physical appearance. this has
00:04:33.629 --> 00:04:35.531
Physical appearance. this has a deeper meaning. because
00:04:35.598 --> 00:04:37.400
A deeper meaning. because every person is a
00:04:37.467 --> 00:04:38.368
Every person is a masterpiece, made in the
00:04:38.434 --> 00:04:40.036
Masterpiece, made in the image of god. but the
00:04:40.103 --> 00:04:42.004
Image of god. but the symbolism here is rachel is
00:04:42.071 --> 00:04:44.440
Symbolism here is rachel is beautiful, and leah is ugly.
00:04:44.507 --> 00:04:47.610
Beautiful, and leah is ugly. well, when jacob saw rachel,
00:04:47.677 --> 00:04:49.445
Well, when jacob saw rachel, he didn't think twice. it was
00:04:49.512 --> 00:04:51.447
He didn't think twice. it was love at first sight. he
00:04:51.514 --> 00:04:52.682
Love at first sight. he thought, "i'm going to marry
00:04:52.749 --> 00:04:53.416
Thought, "i'm going to marry this girl." in those days,
00:04:53.483 --> 00:04:56.219
This girl." in those days, women were treated almost
00:04:56.285 --> 00:04:57.387
Women were treated almost like property. you had to buy
00:04:57.453 --> 00:04:59.122
Like property. you had to buy them. jacob went to laban and
00:04:59.188 --> 00:05:01.457
Them. jacob went to laban and said, "i'll make a deal with
00:05:01.524 --> 00:05:02.458
Said, "i'll make a deal with you. i'll work for you seven
00:05:02.525 --> 00:05:04.327
You. i'll work for you seven years, if you'll let me marry
00:05:04.394 --> 00:05:06.195
Years, if you'll let me marry rachel." laban shook his hand
00:05:06.262 --> 00:05:08.998
Rachel." laban shook his hand and said, "you have a deal.
00:05:09.065 --> 00:05:10.600
And said, "you have a deal. seven years and she's yours."
00:05:10.666 --> 00:05:13.035
Seven years and she's yours." jacob was so in love; he
00:05:13.102 --> 00:05:14.771
Jacob was so in love; he couldn't wait for the seven
00:05:14.837 --> 00:05:16.005
Couldn't wait for the seven years to pass. he worked
00:05:16.072 --> 00:05:17.840
Years to pass. he worked hard, was faithful. he
00:05:17.907 --> 00:05:20.309
Hard, was faithful. he increased laban's flocks.
00:05:20.376 --> 00:05:22.645
Increased laban's flocks. because of jacob, laban
00:05:22.712 --> 00:05:24.313
Because of jacob, laban became a wealthy man. jacob
00:05:24.380 --> 00:05:26.716
Became a wealthy man. jacob was glad to do it. he knew
00:05:26.783 --> 00:05:28.451
Was glad to do it. he knew something better was coming in
00:05:28.518 --> 00:05:29.819
Something better was coming in return. this beautiful rachel
00:05:29.886 --> 00:05:32.889
Return. this beautiful rachel was about to become his wife.
00:05:32.955 --> 00:05:35.258
Was about to become his wife. the seven years came to an
00:05:35.324 --> 00:05:36.559
The seven years came to an end. laban had this big
00:05:36.626 --> 00:05:38.561
End. laban had this big wedding. all the family and
00:05:38.628 --> 00:05:40.596
Wedding. all the family and friends. back then, the bride
00:05:40.663 --> 00:05:43.733
Friends. back then, the bride wore a very thick veil. you
00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:46.202
Wore a very thick veil. you couldn't see who it was.
00:05:46.269 --> 00:05:47.837
Couldn't see who it was. after the ceremony, they had
00:05:47.904 --> 00:05:49.172
After the ceremony, they had all this dancing, all the
00:05:49.238 --> 00:05:50.406
All this dancing, all the partying. finally, the night
00:05:50.473 --> 00:05:52.308
Partying. finally, the night ended, jacob went home a
00:05:52.375 --> 00:05:54.043
Ended, jacob went home a married man. he woke up the
00:05:54.110 --> 00:05:56.379
Married man. he woke up the next morning, looked over in
00:05:56.446 --> 00:05:58.347
Next morning, looked over in bed, but it wasn't rachel, it
00:05:58.414 --> 00:06:00.750
Bed, but it wasn't rachel, it was leah. he nearly passed
00:06:00.817 --> 00:06:03.085
Was leah. he nearly passed out. he didn't see the
00:06:03.152 --> 00:06:04.987
Out. he didn't see the beautiful face he dreamed
00:06:05.054 --> 00:06:06.355
Beautiful face he dreamed about; he saw weak eyes
00:06:06.422 --> 00:06:08.524
About; he saw weak eyes staring at him. no offense,
00:06:08.591 --> 00:06:10.993
Staring at him. no offense, but he didn't work that hard,
00:06:11.060 --> 00:06:12.495
But he didn't work that hard, that long, for something that
00:06:12.562 --> 00:06:14.230
That long, for something that dull. he went straight to
00:06:14.297 --> 00:06:16.098
Dull. he went straight to laban and said, "this is not
00:06:16.165 --> 00:06:18.267
Laban and said, "this is not what we agreed to. i didn't
00:06:18.334 --> 00:06:20.470
What we agreed to. i didn't ask for the unattractive one,
00:06:20.536 --> 00:06:22.271
Ask for the unattractive one, i asked for the beautiful
00:06:22.338 --> 00:06:23.339
I asked for the beautiful one." how many times have we
00:06:23.406 --> 00:06:25.908
One." how many times have we prayed for rachel, but we got
00:06:25.975 --> 00:06:27.877
Prayed for rachel, but we got leah. like jacob, we worked
00:06:27.944 --> 00:06:30.446
Leah. like jacob, we worked hard. we did the right thing,
00:06:30.513 --> 00:06:33.082
Hard. we did the right thing, we were expecting rachel,
00:06:33.149 --> 00:06:34.717
We were expecting rachel, favor, promotion, good
00:06:34.784 --> 00:06:36.319
Favor, promotion, good breaks, but leah showed up.
00:06:36.385 --> 00:06:38.788
Breaks, but leah showed up. something unfair, that we
00:06:38.855 --> 00:06:40.323
Something unfair, that we didn't see coming.
00:06:40.389 --> 00:06:42.325
Didn't see coming. laban was dishonest. he
00:06:42.391 --> 00:06:43.960
Laban was dishonest. he didn't keep his word. but in
00:06:44.026 --> 00:06:45.628
Didn't keep his word. but in his defense, in those days,
00:06:45.695 --> 00:06:47.964
His defense, in those days, the father was responsible
00:06:48.030 --> 00:06:49.999
The father was responsible for giving the oldest
00:06:50.066 --> 00:06:51.133
For giving the oldest daughter in marriage first.
00:06:51.200 --> 00:06:53.202
Daughter in marriage first. that was the tradition. that
00:06:53.269 --> 00:06:54.971
That was the tradition. that was being an honorable
00:06:55.037 --> 00:06:56.072
Was being an honorable father, not overlooking the
00:06:56.138 --> 00:06:58.007
Father, not overlooking the older. laban said to jacob,
00:06:58.074 --> 00:07:00.843
Older. laban said to jacob, "if you'll work for me
00:07:00.910 --> 00:07:01.844
"if you'll work for me another seven years, then
00:07:01.911 --> 00:07:04.046
Another seven years, then i'll give you rachel." jacob
00:07:04.113 --> 00:07:06.148
I'll give you rachel." jacob wasn't happy about it, but he
00:07:06.215 --> 00:07:07.917
Wasn't happy about it, but he agreed. he worked seven more
00:07:07.984 --> 00:07:10.286
Agreed. he worked seven more years in an unfair situation.
00:07:10.353 --> 00:07:13.322
Years in an unfair situation. he was taken advantage of. it
00:07:13.389 --> 00:07:15.725
He was taken advantage of. it might have been protocol, but
00:07:15.791 --> 00:07:17.393
Might have been protocol, but laban should have told him,
00:07:17.460 --> 00:07:18.895
Laban should have told him, and not tricked him. but
00:07:18.961 --> 00:07:20.963
And not tricked him. but here's the key, jacob didn't
00:07:21.030 --> 00:07:22.765
Here's the key, jacob didn't complain. he wasn't
00:07:22.832 --> 00:07:24.734
Complain. he wasn't disrespectful to leah. she
00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:26.802
Disrespectful to leah. she wasn't his choice, but he
00:07:26.869 --> 00:07:28.337
Wasn't his choice, but he didn't blame her. "why are
00:07:28.404 --> 00:07:29.572
Didn't blame her. "why are you unattractive? you're not
00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:31.240
You unattractive? you're not who i wanted." he did the
00:07:31.307 --> 00:07:33.042
Who i wanted." he did the right thing when it was hard.
00:07:33.109 --> 00:07:35.311
Right thing when it was hard. he kept being his best in an
00:07:35.378 --> 00:07:36.913
He kept being his best in an ugly situation. at the end of
00:07:36.979 --> 00:07:39.415
Ugly situation. at the end of the seven years, he married
00:07:39.482 --> 00:07:41.484
The seven years, he married rachel, he saw that promise
00:07:41.551 --> 00:07:43.486
Rachel, he saw that promise come to pass.
00:07:43.553 --> 00:07:45.321
Come to pass. rachel represents what we're
00:07:45.388 --> 00:07:47.156
Rachel represents what we're believing for, our dreams,
00:07:47.223 --> 00:07:49.926
Believing for, our dreams, good health, joy, peace,
00:07:49.992 --> 00:07:51.761
Good health, joy, peace, abundance. we all want
00:07:51.827 --> 00:07:53.796
Abundance. we all want rachel, but often leah shows
00:07:53.863 --> 00:07:56.832
Rachel, but often leah shows up first. something that we
00:07:56.899 --> 00:07:58.801
Up first. something that we didn't want, what's
00:07:58.868 --> 00:08:00.136
Didn't want, what's unattractive. what you do in
00:08:00.202 --> 00:08:02.772
Unattractive. what you do in the ugly situations will
00:08:02.838 --> 00:08:04.874
The ugly situations will determine whether you get
00:08:04.941 --> 00:08:06.175
Determine whether you get stuck there, or you come into
00:08:06.242 --> 00:08:08.377
Stuck there, or you come into the beautiful things god has
00:08:08.444 --> 00:08:10.046
The beautiful things god has for you. you may be in one of
00:08:10.112 --> 00:08:12.415
For you. you may be in one of those ugly times now, things
00:08:12.481 --> 00:08:14.717
Those ugly times now, things haven't turned out the way
00:08:14.784 --> 00:08:16.052
Haven't turned out the way you had planned. you can get
00:08:16.118 --> 00:08:17.920
You had planned. you can get bitter, give up on your
00:08:17.987 --> 00:08:19.322
Bitter, give up on your dreams, or you can do like
00:08:19.388 --> 00:08:21.591
Dreams, or you can do like jacob and do the right thing
00:08:21.657 --> 00:08:23.859
Jacob and do the right thing when it's unfair. keep being
00:08:23.926 --> 00:08:25.928
When it's unfair. keep being your best when life throws
00:08:25.995 --> 00:08:27.430
Your best when life throws you a curve. rachel is
00:08:27.496 --> 00:08:29.498
You a curve. rachel is coming. what god promised you
00:08:29.565 --> 00:08:32.201
Coming. what god promised you is still in route. leah is a
00:08:32.268 --> 00:08:35.137
Is still in route. leah is a test. the ugly situation is
00:08:35.204 --> 00:08:38.207
Test. the ugly situation is where you have to prove to
00:08:38.274 --> 00:08:39.442
Where you have to prove to god what you're made of.
00:08:39.508 --> 00:08:41.210
God what you're made of. genesis 49, jacob was an old
00:08:41.277 --> 00:08:43.512
Genesis 49, jacob was an old man and about to pass. he
00:08:43.579 --> 00:08:45.848
Man and about to pass. he called his children in and
00:08:45.915 --> 00:08:46.882
Called his children in and spoke blessings. he gathered
00:08:46.949 --> 00:08:49.051
Spoke blessings. he gathered his loved ones around and
00:08:49.118 --> 00:08:50.486
His loved ones around and gave them one final
00:08:50.553 --> 00:08:51.520
Gave them one final instruction. he said in verse
00:08:51.587 --> 00:08:53.356
Instruction. he said in verse 29, "soon i'm going to die.
00:08:53.422 --> 00:08:56.525
29, "soon i'm going to die. bury me in the cave of
00:08:56.592 --> 00:08:58.227
Bury me in the cave of machpelah, where my
00:08:58.294 --> 00:08:59.829
Machpelah, where my grandfather and father are
00:08:59.895 --> 00:09:01.564
Grandfather and father are buried. for there i buried
00:09:01.631 --> 00:09:04.000
Buried. for there i buried leah." in those days, it was
00:09:04.066 --> 00:09:06.602
Leah." in those days, it was very important where you were
00:09:06.669 --> 00:09:08.137
Very important where you were laid to rest. it wasn't an
00:09:08.204 --> 00:09:10.039
Laid to rest. it wasn't an afterthought. you would have
00:09:10.106 --> 00:09:11.507
Afterthought. you would have put much time and effort into
00:09:11.574 --> 00:09:13.509
Put much time and effort into it. it had great meaning and
00:09:13.576 --> 00:09:15.411
It. it had great meaning and significance. isn't it
00:09:15.478 --> 00:09:17.480
Significance. isn't it interesting that jacob didn't
00:09:17.546 --> 00:09:19.348
Interesting that jacob didn't say, "bury me next to rachel.
00:09:19.415 --> 00:09:22.852
Say, "bury me next to rachel. make sure i'm beside that
00:09:22.918 --> 00:09:24.086
Make sure i'm beside that woman that was so beautiful,
00:09:24.153 --> 00:09:25.721
Woman that was so beautiful, that i loved and admired." no
00:09:25.788 --> 00:09:27.690
That i loved and admired." no jacob said, "bury me next to
00:09:27.757 --> 00:09:29.925
Jacob said, "bury me next to leah." he was saying in
00:09:29.992 --> 00:09:31.961
Leah." he was saying in effect, "when i look back
00:09:32.028 --> 00:09:33.696
Effect, "when i look back over my life, i realize leah
00:09:33.763 --> 00:09:36.632
Over my life, i realize leah was necessary. i was
00:09:36.699 --> 00:09:38.434
Was necessary. i was uncomfortable, i didn't
00:09:38.501 --> 00:09:40.036
Uncomfortable, i didn't choose it, it's not what i
00:09:40.102 --> 00:09:41.604
Choose it, it's not what i expected. but i wouldn't have
00:09:41.671 --> 00:09:43.673
Expected. but i wouldn't have become who i am without leah."
00:09:43.739 --> 00:09:47.476
Become who i am without leah." when we come to the end of
00:09:47.543 --> 00:09:48.644
When we come to the end of life, we're going to realize
00:09:48.711 --> 00:09:50.212
Life, we're going to realize it wasn't just the good
00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:51.947
It wasn't just the good breaks that got us to where
00:09:52.014 --> 00:09:53.282
Breaks that got us to where we are, the open doors, the
00:09:53.349 --> 00:09:55.151
We are, the open doors, the happy times, it was the
00:09:55.217 --> 00:09:56.752
Happy times, it was the leah's. the things we didn't
00:09:56.819 --> 00:09:58.654
Leah's. the things we didn't like, that weren't fair.
00:09:58.721 --> 00:10:00.856
Like, that weren't fair. these ugly moments where we
00:10:00.923 --> 00:10:03.125
These ugly moments where we did the right thing. we
00:10:03.192 --> 00:10:04.960
Did the right thing. we stayed faithful. we trusted
00:10:05.027 --> 00:10:07.496
Stayed faithful. we trusted even though it didn't make
00:10:07.563 --> 00:10:08.698
Even though it didn't make sense. that's where we grew,
00:10:08.764 --> 00:10:11.133
Sense. that's where we grew, that's where our faith got
00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:12.334
That's where our faith got stronger. you may be dealing
00:10:12.401 --> 00:10:14.837
Stronger. you may be dealing with a leah now, something
00:10:14.904 --> 00:10:17.006
With a leah now, something you don't understand. have
00:10:17.073 --> 00:10:18.641
You don't understand. have the right perspective, it's
00:10:18.708 --> 00:10:20.509
The right perspective, it's necessary. you couldn't
00:10:20.576 --> 00:10:22.511
Necessary. you couldn't become who you were created
00:10:22.578 --> 00:10:24.246
Become who you were created to be without it. don't fight
00:10:24.313 --> 00:10:26.716
To be without it. don't fight it. embrace it. it's not
00:10:26.782 --> 00:10:28.884
It. embrace it. it's not stopping you; it's preparing
00:10:28.951 --> 00:10:30.786
Stopping you; it's preparing you. god wouldn't have
00:10:30.853 --> 00:10:32.388
You. god wouldn't have allowed that leah, that ugly
00:10:32.455 --> 00:10:34.924
Allowed that leah, that ugly situation, if he didn't have
00:10:34.990 --> 00:10:37.093
Situation, if he didn't have something beautiful coming.
00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:39.395
Something beautiful coming. judah came out of leah. god
00:10:39.462 --> 00:10:41.897
Judah came out of leah. god chose to bring his only son
00:10:41.964 --> 00:10:43.733
Chose to bring his only son through an ugly situation.
00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:45.868
Through an ugly situation. through the lineage of leah.
00:10:45.935 --> 00:10:48.571
Through the lineage of leah. your situation may be far
00:10:48.637 --> 00:10:50.172
Your situation may be far from beautiful. you were
00:10:50.239 --> 00:10:51.841
From beautiful. you were promised rachel, but you've
00:10:51.907 --> 00:10:53.442
Promised rachel, but you've got leah. you don't know what
00:10:53.509 --> 00:10:55.311
Got leah. you don't know what god is up to. trust him when
00:10:55.377 --> 00:10:58.280
God is up to. trust him when you don't understand. being
00:10:58.347 --> 00:11:00.416
You don't understand. being in an ugly situation doesn't
00:11:00.483 --> 00:11:02.518
In an ugly situation doesn't mean god is not working. we
00:11:02.585 --> 00:11:04.987
Mean god is not working. we wouldn't have the messiah if
00:11:05.054 --> 00:11:06.722
Wouldn't have the messiah if it wasn't for leah. without
00:11:06.789 --> 00:11:08.958
It wasn't for leah. without that difficulty, you couldn't
00:11:09.024 --> 00:11:10.593
That difficulty, you couldn't become who you were created
00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:12.394
Become who you were created to be. i'm not saying it's
00:11:12.461 --> 00:11:14.396
To be. i'm not saying it's going to be easy. you're
00:11:14.463 --> 00:11:15.564
Going to be easy. you're going to feel like having a
00:11:15.631 --> 00:11:16.966
Going to feel like having a good attitude, and being good
00:11:17.032 --> 00:11:19.001
Good attitude, and being good to people that haven't been
00:11:19.068 --> 00:11:20.536
To people that haven't been good to you, staying in faith
00:11:20.603 --> 00:11:22.004
Good to you, staying in faith when the medical report is
00:11:22.071 --> 00:11:23.205
When the medical report is not improving. if it was easy
00:11:23.272 --> 00:11:26.308
Not improving. if it was easy everyone would do it. but the
00:11:26.375 --> 00:11:28.244
Everyone would do it. but the people that come out of the
00:11:28.310 --> 00:11:29.445
People that come out of the ugly into the beautiful, are
00:11:29.512 --> 00:11:31.847
Ugly into the beautiful, are people that have a made-up
00:11:31.914 --> 00:11:33.649
People that have a made-up mind, people that say, "i'm
00:11:33.716 --> 00:11:35.317
Mind, people that say, "i'm not moved by who did me
00:11:35.384 --> 00:11:36.819
Not moved by who did me wrong, what didn't work out,
00:11:36.886 --> 00:11:39.321
Wrong, what didn't work out, what wasn't fair. i know this
00:11:39.388 --> 00:11:41.891
What wasn't fair. i know this ugly situation is a sign that
00:11:41.957 --> 00:11:44.894
Ugly situation is a sign that something beautiful is
00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:45.928
Something beautiful is coming."
00:11:45.995 --> 00:11:47.363
Coming." jesus said in matthew, "take
00:11:47.429 --> 00:11:49.165
Jesus said in matthew, "take up your cross and follow me."
00:11:49.231 --> 00:11:52.001
Up your cross and follow me." we pray for blessings, favor,
00:11:52.067 --> 00:11:54.236
We pray for blessings, favor, health. that's good, but none
00:11:54.303 --> 00:11:56.238
Health. that's good, but none of us pray for a cross. we
00:11:56.305 --> 00:11:58.474
Of us pray for a cross. we want rachel, not leah. but
00:11:58.541 --> 00:12:01.310
Want rachel, not leah. but there are levels of your
00:12:01.377 --> 00:12:02.511
There are levels of your destiny you cannot reach
00:12:02.578 --> 00:12:04.747
Destiny you cannot reach without taking up your cross.
00:12:04.814 --> 00:12:06.949
Without taking up your cross. you won't see rachel until
00:12:07.016 --> 00:12:09.084
You won't see rachel until you've encountered leah.
00:12:09.151 --> 00:12:11.353
You've encountered leah. taking up your cross is not
00:12:11.420 --> 00:12:12.922
Taking up your cross is not some sad, defeated, suffering
00:12:12.988 --> 00:12:15.925
Some sad, defeated, suffering life. we're supposed to live
00:12:15.991 --> 00:12:17.760
Life. we're supposed to live an abundant, joyful,
00:12:17.827 --> 00:12:19.562
An abundant, joyful, victorious life. but sure
00:12:19.628 --> 00:12:21.931
Victorious life. but sure there will be crosses,
00:12:21.997 --> 00:12:23.532
There will be crosses, betrayals, unfair situations,
00:12:23.599 --> 00:12:26.602
Betrayals, unfair situations, dealing with an addiction,
00:12:26.669 --> 00:12:28.404
Dealing with an addiction, leah will show up. we don't
00:12:28.470 --> 00:12:30.239
Leah will show up. we don't like it. we're uncomfortable.
00:12:30.306 --> 00:12:32.875
Like it. we're uncomfortable. you have to do like jacob,
00:12:32.942 --> 00:12:34.243
You have to do like jacob, don't get bitter. keep doing
00:12:34.310 --> 00:12:37.112
Don't get bitter. keep doing the right thing when it's
00:12:37.179 --> 00:12:38.214
The right thing when it's hard. endure when you feel
00:12:38.280 --> 00:12:40.716
Hard. endure when you feel like giving up. stay in peace
00:12:40.783 --> 00:12:43.052
Like giving up. stay in peace when you could be worried.
00:12:43.118 --> 00:12:44.553
When you could be worried. that's what it means to take
00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:45.955
That's what it means to take up your cross. you're in an
00:12:46.021 --> 00:12:47.890
Up your cross. you're in an ugly situation but you're not
00:12:47.957 --> 00:12:49.792
Ugly situation but you're not moved. you know it's all
00:12:49.859 --> 00:12:51.527
Moved. you know it's all working for your good. we
00:12:51.594 --> 00:12:53.963
Working for your good. we hear a lot about the
00:12:54.029 --> 00:12:55.097
Hear a lot about the suffering, the burden, the
00:12:55.164 --> 00:12:56.765
Suffering, the burden, the pain. but you have to
00:12:56.832 --> 00:12:58.434
Pain. but you have to realize, the cross is not the
00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:00.569
Realize, the cross is not the end of your story, there's a
00:13:00.636 --> 00:13:02.204
End of your story, there's a resurrection coming. when you
00:13:02.271 --> 00:13:04.406
Resurrection coming. when you take up your cross, it's
00:13:04.473 --> 00:13:06.041
Take up your cross, it's leading to blessing, favor,
00:13:06.108 --> 00:13:08.477
Leading to blessing, favor, health, levels of your
00:13:08.544 --> 00:13:10.479
Health, levels of your destiny you could have never
00:13:10.546 --> 00:13:12.481
Destiny you could have never reached without the
00:13:12.548 --> 00:13:13.883
Reached without the adversity. leah had to
00:13:13.949 --> 00:13:16.018
Adversity. leah had to happen. leah was necessary
00:13:16.085 --> 00:13:18.287
Happen. leah was necessary for your purpose. don't fight
00:13:18.354 --> 00:13:19.922
For your purpose. don't fight it, complain, "joel, why did
00:13:19.989 --> 00:13:22.758
It, complain, "joel, why did these people cheat me. i'm
00:13:22.825 --> 00:13:24.927
These people cheat me. i'm dealing with this illness.
00:13:24.994 --> 00:13:26.228
Dealing with this illness. these coworkers, they're
00:13:26.295 --> 00:13:27.696
These coworkers, they're always trying to discredit
00:13:27.763 --> 00:13:29.131
Always trying to discredit me." we're all going to have
00:13:29.198 --> 00:13:30.933
Me." we're all going to have leah, but remember, the
00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:32.801
Leah, but remember, the messiah came through leah,
00:13:32.868 --> 00:13:35.237
Messiah came through leah, through an ugly situation.
00:13:35.304 --> 00:13:37.406
Through an ugly situation. through something that was
00:13:37.473 --> 00:13:38.307
Through something that was unfair. there's purpose in
00:13:38.374 --> 00:13:40.876
Unfair. there's purpose in the pain. favor is going to
00:13:40.943 --> 00:13:42.978
The pain. favor is going to come out of the frustration.
00:13:43.045 --> 00:13:44.747
Come out of the frustration. promotion out of that loss.
00:13:44.813 --> 00:13:47.683
Promotion out of that loss. for seventeen years, i worked
00:13:47.750 --> 00:13:49.351
For seventeen years, i worked behind the scenes here at
00:13:49.418 --> 00:13:50.452
Behind the scenes here at lakewood doing the television
00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:52.354
Lakewood doing the television production. i enjoyed making
00:13:52.421 --> 00:13:54.857
Production. i enjoyed making my father look good. i
00:13:54.924 --> 00:13:56.692
My father look good. i thought that's what i would
00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.559
Thought that's what i would do the rest of my life. my
00:13:57.626 --> 00:13:59.428
Do the rest of my life. my father and i were the best of
00:13:59.495 --> 00:14:00.629
Father and i were the best of friends. i had a beautiful
00:14:00.696 --> 00:14:02.498
Friends. i had a beautiful wife, two young children.
00:14:02.564 --> 00:14:04.466
Wife, two young children. life was good, then leah
00:14:04.533 --> 00:14:06.568
Life was good, then leah showed up. my father had a
00:14:06.635 --> 00:14:08.604
Showed up. my father had a heart attack and suddenly
00:14:08.671 --> 00:14:10.339
Heart attack and suddenly went to be with the lord. i
00:14:10.406 --> 00:14:12.007
Went to be with the lord. i didn't see that coming. i
00:14:12.074 --> 00:14:13.709
Didn't see that coming. i thought daddy would be here
00:14:13.776 --> 00:14:15.277
Thought daddy would be here another twenty years, but
00:14:15.344 --> 00:14:17.246
Another twenty years, but unexpectedly he was gone. i
00:14:17.313 --> 00:14:20.482
Unexpectedly he was gone. i found myself in an ugly
00:14:20.549 --> 00:14:22.151
Found myself in an ugly situation. it was painful.
00:14:22.217 --> 00:14:24.486
Situation. it was painful. there was so much
00:14:24.553 --> 00:14:25.521
There was so much uncertainty. what's going to
00:14:25.587 --> 00:14:26.789
Uncertainty. what's going to happen to lakewood. i knew i
00:14:26.855 --> 00:14:29.124
Happen to lakewood. i knew i was supposed to step up and
00:14:29.191 --> 00:14:30.526
Was supposed to step up and pastor, but i was afraid. i
00:14:30.592 --> 00:14:33.228
Pastor, but i was afraid. i didn't feel qualified. plus,
00:14:33.295 --> 00:14:35.130
Didn't feel qualified. plus, i was dealing with the loss
00:14:35.197 --> 00:14:36.098
I was dealing with the loss of my father. i liked the way
00:14:36.165 --> 00:14:38.434
Of my father. i liked the way it was before, with rachel,
00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:41.170
It was before, with rachel, everything beautiful. but
00:14:41.236 --> 00:14:43.205
Everything beautiful. but sometimes god will send leah
00:14:43.272 --> 00:14:45.641
Sometimes god will send leah to push you into your purpose.
00:14:45.708 --> 00:14:48.177
To push you into your purpose. if my father was still here,
00:14:48.243 --> 00:14:50.079
If my father was still here, i would have never stepped
00:14:50.145 --> 00:14:51.080
I would have never stepped up. i was comfortable where i
00:14:51.146 --> 00:14:53.415
Up. i was comfortable where i was. but you know what
00:14:53.482 --> 00:14:55.050
Was. but you know what brought the gifts out that i
00:14:55.117 --> 00:14:56.485
Brought the gifts out that i never knew i had, not rachel,
00:14:56.552 --> 00:14:58.988
Never knew i had, not rachel, not the good times, but leah.
00:14:59.054 --> 00:15:01.957
Not the good times, but leah. i thought losing my father
00:15:02.024 --> 00:15:03.659
I thought losing my father would be my darkest hour, but
00:15:03.726 --> 00:15:05.728
Would be my darkest hour, but in fact, it launched me into
00:15:05.794 --> 00:15:07.730
In fact, it launched me into my brightest hour. god was
00:15:07.796 --> 00:15:10.199
My brightest hour. god was working in the loss, in the
00:15:10.265 --> 00:15:12.001
Working in the loss, in the pain, in the trouble. he was
00:15:12.067 --> 00:15:14.803
Pain, in the trouble. he was using leah to get me to
00:15:14.870 --> 00:15:17.039
Using leah to get me to rachel, to a level of my
00:15:17.106 --> 00:15:19.208
Rachel, to a level of my destiny i would have never
00:15:19.274 --> 00:15:21.010
Destiny i would have never seen without that ugly
00:15:21.076 --> 00:15:22.644
Seen without that ugly situation. when i come to the
00:15:22.711 --> 00:15:25.280
Situation. when i come to the end of life, i can say with
00:15:25.347 --> 00:15:27.116
End of life, i can say with jacob, "bury me next to
00:15:27.182 --> 00:15:29.218
Jacob, "bury me next to leah." because if i hadn't
00:15:29.284 --> 00:15:31.320
Leah." because if i hadn't had that loss, i would have
00:15:31.387 --> 00:15:32.888
Had that loss, i would have never stepped up to who i was
00:15:32.955 --> 00:15:34.923
Never stepped up to who i was created to be. without leah,
00:15:34.990 --> 00:15:37.793
Created to be. without leah, i would have never become a
00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:38.727
I would have never become a pastor, never had the compaq
00:15:38.794 --> 00:15:40.963
Pastor, never had the compaq center, never written a book.
00:15:41.030 --> 00:15:43.098
Center, never written a book. what am i saying? don't
00:15:43.165 --> 00:15:44.633
What am i saying? don't complain about leah, what was
00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:47.069
Complain about leah, what was unfair, the loss, the
00:15:47.136 --> 00:15:48.437
Unfair, the loss, the breakup. that ugly situation
00:15:48.504 --> 00:15:51.473
Breakup. that ugly situation is leading to something
00:15:51.540 --> 00:15:52.608
Is leading to something beautiful. out of leah's
00:15:52.674 --> 00:15:54.843
Beautiful. out of leah's lineage came the messiah. out
00:15:54.910 --> 00:15:57.446
Lineage came the messiah. out of your ugly seasons, you're
00:15:57.513 --> 00:15:59.348
Of your ugly seasons, you're going to give birth to
00:15:59.415 --> 00:16:00.416
Going to give birth to amazing things, talent,
00:16:00.482 --> 00:16:02.518
Amazing things, talent, favor, opportunity, that
00:16:02.584 --> 00:16:04.720
Favor, opportunity, that you've never dreamed.
00:16:04.787 --> 00:16:06.722
You've never dreamed. we see this in the scripture
00:16:06.789 --> 00:16:08.690
We see this in the scripture with joseph. as a teenager,
00:16:08.757 --> 00:16:11.427
With joseph. as a teenager, god gave him a dream that he
00:16:11.493 --> 00:16:13.028
God gave him a dream that he would be in leadership,
00:16:13.095 --> 00:16:14.530
Would be in leadership, people would bow down before
00:16:14.596 --> 00:16:15.964
People would bow down before him. like jacob, he had this
00:16:16.031 --> 00:16:18.400
Him. like jacob, he had this promise, that rachel is
00:16:18.467 --> 00:16:19.768
Promise, that rachel is coming, something beautiful.
00:16:19.835 --> 00:16:22.204
Coming, something beautiful. joseph was being his best,
00:16:22.271 --> 00:16:24.073
Joseph was being his best, honoring god, then leah
00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:26.208
Honoring god, then leah showed up. his brothers were
00:16:26.275 --> 00:16:28.210
Showed up. his brothers were jealous. they threw him into
00:16:28.277 --> 00:16:30.312
Jealous. they threw him into a pit and were going to leave
00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:32.014
A pit and were going to leave him there. but they ended up
00:16:32.081 --> 00:16:33.849
Him there. but they ended up selling him as a slave in
00:16:33.916 --> 00:16:35.551
Selling him as a slave in egypt. i'm sure joseph
00:16:35.617 --> 00:16:37.853
Egypt. i'm sure joseph thought, "god, you gave me
00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:39.388
Thought, "god, you gave me this dream. you promised me
00:16:39.455 --> 00:16:41.490
This dream. you promised me rachel, but now i'm a slave,
00:16:41.557 --> 00:16:43.926
Rachel, but now i'm a slave, in a foreign country." he
00:16:43.992 --> 00:16:45.994
In a foreign country." he dreamed of something
00:16:46.061 --> 00:16:47.162
Dreamed of something beautiful, but he was facing
00:16:47.229 --> 00:16:49.531
Beautiful, but he was facing something ugly. before you
00:16:49.598 --> 00:16:52.000
Something ugly. before you see rachel, often you'll have
00:16:52.067 --> 00:16:54.203
See rachel, often you'll have to deal with leah. how you
00:16:54.269 --> 00:16:56.472
To deal with leah. how you handle the betrayals, the
00:16:56.538 --> 00:16:58.173
Handle the betrayals, the loss, the delays, that will
00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.409
Loss, the delays, that will determine whether you see
00:17:00.476 --> 00:17:01.643
Determine whether you see rachel. it's easy to get
00:17:01.710 --> 00:17:03.645
Rachel. it's easy to get sour, live with a chip on
00:17:03.712 --> 00:17:05.848
Sour, live with a chip on your shoulder. "god, you
00:17:05.914 --> 00:17:07.282
Your shoulder. "god, you healed my mother, why didn't
00:17:07.349 --> 00:17:08.484
Healed my mother, why didn't you heal my father." or
00:17:08.550 --> 00:17:10.452
You heal my father." or david, "god, my own family
00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:12.554
David, "god, my own family has turned on me." those ugly
00:17:12.621 --> 00:17:15.157
Has turned on me." those ugly times are not random, that's
00:17:15.224 --> 00:17:17.392
Times are not random, that's not happenstance, that's a
00:17:17.459 --> 00:17:19.128
Not happenstance, that's a sign god is up to something.
00:17:19.194 --> 00:17:22.164
Sign god is up to something. god knows what he promised
00:17:22.231 --> 00:17:23.832
God knows what he promised you, and he knows what he put
00:17:23.899 --> 00:17:26.034
You, and he knows what he put in you that you don't even
00:17:26.101 --> 00:17:27.803
In you that you don't even realize. it's all working for
00:17:27.870 --> 00:17:29.605
Realize. it's all working for your good.
00:17:29.671 --> 00:17:31.273
Your good. joseph kept being his best,
00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:33.242
Joseph kept being his best, doing the right thing. he was
00:17:33.308 --> 00:17:35.244
Doing the right thing. he was falsely accused and put in
00:17:35.310 --> 00:17:37.012
Falsely accused and put in prison. one day the pharaoh
00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:39.548
Prison. one day the pharaoh had a dream that he couldn't
00:17:39.615 --> 00:17:41.416
Had a dream that he couldn't interpret. they told him
00:17:41.483 --> 00:17:43.719
Interpret. they told him about a slave, a foreigner in
00:17:43.785 --> 00:17:45.921
About a slave, a foreigner in prison, a man named joseph,
00:17:45.988 --> 00:17:48.490
Prison, a man named joseph, how he could interpret
00:17:48.557 --> 00:17:49.558
How he could interpret dreams. joseph was brought
00:17:49.625 --> 00:17:51.760
Dreams. joseph was brought before the pharaoh, the
00:17:51.827 --> 00:17:53.395
Before the pharaoh, the leader of the country. he
00:17:53.462 --> 00:17:55.097
Leader of the country. he interpreted his dream. the
00:17:55.164 --> 00:17:56.899
Interpreted his dream. the pharaoh was so impressed that
00:17:56.965 --> 00:17:58.767
Pharaoh was so impressed that he made joseph the prime
00:17:58.834 --> 00:18:00.269
He made joseph the prime minister of egypt. joseph saw
00:18:00.335 --> 00:18:02.604
Minister of egypt. joseph saw his dream come to pass, in
00:18:02.671 --> 00:18:04.640
His dream come to pass, in leadership, with people
00:18:04.706 --> 00:18:06.241
Leadership, with people bowing down before him. if
00:18:06.308 --> 00:18:08.810
Bowing down before him. if joseph were here today, he
00:18:08.877 --> 00:18:10.479
Joseph were here today, he would tell you, my brothers
00:18:10.546 --> 00:18:12.447
Would tell you, my brothers being jealous was necessary.
00:18:12.514 --> 00:18:15.150
Being jealous was necessary. the betrayal was necessary.
00:18:15.217 --> 00:18:17.452
The betrayal was necessary. being falsely accused was
00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:19.288
Being falsely accused was necessary. leah had to
00:18:19.354 --> 00:18:21.523
Necessary. leah had to happen. without the ugly
00:18:21.590 --> 00:18:23.492
Happen. without the ugly situation, he would have
00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.927
Situation, he would have never seen rachel. it was all
00:18:24.993 --> 00:18:27.029
Never seen rachel. it was all a part of god's plan.
00:18:27.095 --> 00:18:29.431
A part of god's plan. i know you can trust god, but
00:18:29.498 --> 00:18:32.034
I know you can trust god, but my question is, can he trust
00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:34.436
My question is, can he trust you? can god count on you to
00:18:34.503 --> 00:18:37.206
You? can god count on you to do the right thing in the
00:18:37.272 --> 00:18:38.840
Do the right thing in the ugly situations, things that
00:18:38.907 --> 00:18:41.043
Ugly situations, things that are not fair, when you pray
00:18:41.109 --> 00:18:43.045
Are not fair, when you pray for rachel, but leah shows
00:18:43.111 --> 00:18:44.880
For rachel, but leah shows up. will you be like joseph
00:18:44.947 --> 00:18:47.416
Up. will you be like joseph and keep being your best?
00:18:47.482 --> 00:18:49.451
And keep being your best? that's passing the test. i
00:18:49.518 --> 00:18:51.853
That's passing the test. i can't promise you that if you
00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:53.455
Can't promise you that if you stay in faith, you'll always
00:18:53.522 --> 00:18:55.123
Stay in faith, you'll always see rachel, blessings, favor,
00:18:55.190 --> 00:18:57.526
See rachel, blessings, favor, beautiful, attractive. you
00:18:57.593 --> 00:18:59.628
Beautiful, attractive. you can't reach your destiny
00:18:59.695 --> 00:19:01.163
Can't reach your destiny without leah. but i can
00:19:01.230 --> 00:19:03.165
Without leah. but i can promise you, that if you'll
00:19:03.232 --> 00:19:04.933
Promise you, that if you'll endure with a good attitude,
00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:07.469
Endure with a good attitude, go through the suffering with
00:19:07.536 --> 00:19:08.837
Go through the suffering with a smile, praising instead of
00:19:08.904 --> 00:19:11.240
A smile, praising instead of complaining, then all those
00:19:11.306 --> 00:19:13.642
Complaining, then all those things that looked like they
00:19:13.709 --> 00:19:14.977
Things that looked like they would stop you, will end up
00:19:15.043 --> 00:19:17.179
Would stop you, will end up thrusting you into your
00:19:17.246 --> 00:19:18.480
Thrusting you into your purpose. you'll be able to
00:19:18.547 --> 00:19:20.549
Purpose. you'll be able to say like jacob, "bury me next
00:19:20.616 --> 00:19:23.151
Say like jacob, "bury me next to leah. i couldn't have
00:19:23.218 --> 00:19:25.087
To leah. i couldn't have become who i was created to
00:19:25.153 --> 00:19:26.855
Become who i was created to be without the ugly
00:19:26.922 --> 00:19:28.490
Be without the ugly situation." the things you
00:19:28.557 --> 00:19:30.659
Situation." the things you didn't like, but you passed
00:19:30.726 --> 00:19:32.527
Didn't like, but you passed the test. you did the right
00:19:32.594 --> 00:19:34.496
The test. you did the right thing when it was hard, and
00:19:34.563 --> 00:19:36.198
Thing when it was hard, and you gave birth to your judah.
00:19:36.265 --> 00:19:37.633
You gave birth to your judah. to something greater than
00:19:37.699 --> 00:19:39.568
To something greater than you've imagined.
00:19:39.635 --> 00:19:41.370
You've imagined. back in the late 1950's, my
00:19:41.436 --> 00:19:42.070
Back in the late 1950's, my father was the pastor of a
00:19:42.137 --> 00:19:45.007
Father was the pastor of a successful church. they had
00:19:45.073 --> 00:19:47.209
Successful church. they had just built a new sanctuary
00:19:47.276 --> 00:19:48.677
Just built a new sanctuary that held a thousand people.
00:19:48.744 --> 00:19:50.712
That held a thousand people. that was uncommon for back
00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:52.414
That was uncommon for back then. he was on the state
00:19:52.481 --> 00:19:54.283
Then. he was on the state board for his denomination,
00:19:54.349 --> 00:19:56.084
Board for his denomination, on his way up. the future
00:19:56.151 --> 00:19:57.919
On his way up. the future looked so bright, then leah
00:19:57.986 --> 00:20:00.055
Looked so bright, then leah showed up. my sister was born
00:20:00.122 --> 00:20:02.991
Showed up. my sister was born with a birth injury,
00:20:03.058 --> 00:20:04.526
With a birth injury, something like cerebral
00:20:04.593 --> 00:20:05.594
Something like cerebral palsy. the doctors told my
00:20:05.661 --> 00:20:07.729
Palsy. the doctors told my parents she would never be
00:20:07.796 --> 00:20:09.598
Parents she would never be able to walk or feed herself.
00:20:09.665 --> 00:20:12.167
Able to walk or feed herself. they were devastated. my
00:20:12.234 --> 00:20:14.069
They were devastated. my father began to read the
00:20:14.136 --> 00:20:15.404
Father began to read the scriptures in a new light. he
00:20:15.470 --> 00:20:18.106
Scriptures in a new light. he was taught that god doesn't
00:20:18.173 --> 00:20:19.675
Was taught that god doesn't heal today, you just have to
00:20:19.741 --> 00:20:21.843
Heal today, you just have to accept it as his will. that
00:20:21.910 --> 00:20:23.912
Accept it as his will. that miracles and healing were
00:20:23.979 --> 00:20:25.614
Miracles and healing were only for bible days. but he
00:20:25.681 --> 00:20:28.116
Only for bible days. but he read in hebrews where jesus
00:20:28.183 --> 00:20:31.153
Read in hebrews where jesus christ is the same yesterday,
00:20:31.219 --> 00:20:33.722
Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. that lit a
00:20:33.789 --> 00:20:36.258
Today and forever. that lit a new fire on the inside. he
00:20:36.325 --> 00:20:38.927
New fire on the inside. he came back to his church with
00:20:38.994 --> 00:20:40.362
Came back to his church with this new message of faith,
00:20:40.429 --> 00:20:42.364
This new message of faith, victory, and how when we
00:20:42.431 --> 00:20:44.099
Victory, and how when we believe all things are
00:20:44.166 --> 00:20:45.467
Believe all things are possible. he thought everyone
00:20:45.534 --> 00:20:47.636
Possible. he thought everyone would be so excited, but it
00:20:47.703 --> 00:20:49.037
Would be so excited, but it was just the opposite. some
00:20:49.104 --> 00:20:51.173
Was just the opposite. some people didn't like it. it
00:20:51.239 --> 00:20:53.075
People didn't like it. it didn't fit their tradition.
00:20:53.141 --> 00:20:55.210
Didn't fit their tradition. there was so much contention
00:20:55.277 --> 00:20:56.678
There was so much contention and strife, that my parents
00:20:56.745 --> 00:20:58.680
And strife, that my parents had to resign. they left that
00:20:58.747 --> 00:21:00.949
Had to resign. they left that church that they had spent
00:21:01.016 --> 00:21:02.050
Church that they had spent years pouring their heart and
00:21:02.117 --> 00:21:03.819
Years pouring their heart and soul into. they never saw
00:21:03.885 --> 00:21:05.887
Soul into. they never saw that coming. life was so
00:21:05.954 --> 00:21:07.723
That coming. life was so good, then their whole world
00:21:07.789 --> 00:21:10.192
Good, then their whole world was turned upside down.
00:21:10.258 --> 00:21:12.427
Was turned upside down. they could have been
00:21:12.494 --> 00:21:13.128
They could have been discouraged, "god we don't
00:21:13.195 --> 00:21:15.097
Discouraged, "god we don't understand." but like jacob,
00:21:15.163 --> 00:21:18.166
Understand." but like jacob, they did the right thing when
00:21:18.233 --> 00:21:19.601
They did the right thing when it was not fair. they didn't
00:21:19.668 --> 00:21:21.870
It was not fair. they didn't get bitter. they didn't talk
00:21:21.937 --> 00:21:23.872
Get bitter. they didn't talk badly about the people. they
00:21:23.939 --> 00:21:25.974
Badly about the people. they went out and started lakewood
00:21:26.041 --> 00:21:27.976
Went out and started lakewood with ninety people in a
00:21:28.043 --> 00:21:29.978
With ninety people in a rundown feed store. it was
00:21:30.045 --> 00:21:31.913
Rundown feed store. it was just a fraction of the amount
00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:34.049
Just a fraction of the amount they had before. but they
00:21:34.116 --> 00:21:36.284
They had before. but they just kept loving those
00:21:36.351 --> 00:21:37.419
Just kept loving those people, caring for them.
00:21:37.486 --> 00:21:39.721
People, caring for them. faithful when it didn't make
00:21:39.788 --> 00:21:41.356
Faithful when it didn't make sense. at nine months old, my
00:21:41.423 --> 00:21:44.159
Sense. at nine months old, my sister lisa lifted her head
00:21:44.226 --> 00:21:46.595
Sister lisa lifted her head off the bed for the first
00:21:46.661 --> 00:21:48.096
Off the bed for the first time, something my parents
00:21:48.163 --> 00:21:49.765
Time, something my parents were told she would never be
00:21:49.831 --> 00:21:51.233
Were told she would never be able to do. little by little,
00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:53.034
Able to do. little by little, she got better and better. of
00:21:53.101 --> 00:21:54.403
She got better and better. of course, you know today lisa's
00:21:54.469 --> 00:21:55.537
Course, you know today lisa's perfectly healthy, one of our
00:21:55.604 --> 00:21:57.205
Perfectly healthy, one of our leaders on staff, one of our
00:21:57.272 --> 00:21:58.440
Leaders on staff, one of our pastors. the critics said
00:21:58.507 --> 00:22:01.109
Pastors. the critics said lakewood would never make it.
00:22:01.176 --> 00:22:02.844
Lakewood would never make it. but sixty-five years later,
00:22:02.911 --> 00:22:04.246
But sixty-five years later, we're still going strong. but
00:22:04.312 --> 00:22:06.348
We're still going strong. but here's my point, there never
00:22:06.415 --> 00:22:08.650
Here's my point, there never would have been a lakewood
00:22:08.717 --> 00:22:10.552
Would have been a lakewood without a leah, an ugly
00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:12.754
Without a leah, an ugly situation. my parents didn't
00:22:12.821 --> 00:22:14.723
Situation. my parents didn't like it, but leah was
00:22:14.790 --> 00:22:16.324
Like it, but leah was necessary. without my
00:22:16.391 --> 00:22:18.160
Necessary. without my sister's birth injury, my
00:22:18.226 --> 00:22:19.961
Sister's birth injury, my father would have never
00:22:20.028 --> 00:22:21.196
Father would have never discovered the fullness of
00:22:21.263 --> 00:22:22.798
Discovered the fullness of the spirit. that's what
00:22:22.864 --> 00:22:24.299
The spirit. that's what launched him into who we are
00:22:24.366 --> 00:22:25.867
Launched him into who we are today. god doesn't send the
00:22:25.934 --> 00:22:28.136
Today. god doesn't send the trouble. he doesn't send the
00:22:28.203 --> 00:22:29.805
Trouble. he doesn't send the sickness, but if he allows
00:22:29.871 --> 00:22:31.840
Sickness, but if he allows it, he's going to somehow use
00:22:31.907 --> 00:22:33.909
It, he's going to somehow use it for good.
00:22:33.975 --> 00:22:35.610
It for good. you may be facing a leah
00:22:35.677 --> 00:22:37.112
You may be facing a leah today, something you don't
00:22:37.179 --> 00:22:38.880
Today, something you don't understand. you know god
00:22:38.947 --> 00:22:40.715
Understand. you know god promised you rachel, but
00:22:40.782 --> 00:22:42.684
Promised you rachel, but things haven't turned out the
00:22:42.751 --> 00:22:43.885
Things haven't turned out the way you thought. it looks
00:22:43.952 --> 00:22:45.587
Way you thought. it looks like god didn't keep his
00:22:45.654 --> 00:22:46.855
Like god didn't keep his word. can i encourage you;
00:22:46.922 --> 00:22:49.090
Word. can i encourage you; rachel is still coming. god
00:22:49.157 --> 00:22:51.726
Rachel is still coming. god is working behind the scenes.
00:22:51.793 --> 00:22:53.528
Is working behind the scenes. this is a test. this is when
00:22:53.595 --> 00:22:55.564
This is a test. this is when you have to prove to god that
00:22:55.630 --> 00:22:57.499
You have to prove to god that you're not going to get
00:22:57.566 --> 00:22:58.200
You're not going to get discouraged and give up. what
00:22:58.266 --> 00:23:00.802
Discouraged and give up. what if you knew it had to happen.
00:23:00.869 --> 00:23:03.572
If you knew it had to happen. that you couldn't reach your
00:23:03.638 --> 00:23:04.606
That you couldn't reach your destiny without leah. i know
00:23:04.673 --> 00:23:07.242
Destiny without leah. i know we love rachel, the
00:23:07.309 --> 00:23:08.443
We love rachel, the beautiful, the comfortable,
00:23:08.510 --> 00:23:10.178
Beautiful, the comfortable, but without leah, you won't
00:23:10.245 --> 00:23:12.047
But without leah, you won't see the greater things god
00:23:12.113 --> 00:23:13.448
See the greater things god has for you. it was through
00:23:13.515 --> 00:23:15.050
Has for you. it was through leah's lineage, through her
00:23:15.116 --> 00:23:17.018
Leah's lineage, through her son judah, that we have the
00:23:17.085 --> 00:23:18.520
Son judah, that we have the messiah. god knows how to
00:23:18.587 --> 00:23:20.956
Messiah. god knows how to bring beautiful things out of
00:23:21.022 --> 00:23:23.258
Bring beautiful things out of ugly situations. i'm asking
00:23:23.325 --> 00:23:25.594
Ugly situations. i'm asking you to trust him when you
00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:27.028
You to trust him when you don't understand. do the
00:23:27.095 --> 00:23:29.130
Don't understand. do the right thing when you're
00:23:29.197 --> 00:23:30.131
Right thing when you're uncomfortable. one day you'll
00:23:30.198 --> 00:23:32.200
Uncomfortable. one day you'll look back and say like jacob,
00:23:32.267 --> 00:23:34.436
Look back and say like jacob, "bury me next to leah." all
00:23:34.503 --> 00:23:36.471
"bury me next to leah." all those things you didn't like,
00:23:36.538 --> 00:23:38.006
Those things you didn't like, you had to endure, suffer
00:23:38.073 --> 00:23:39.774
You had to endure, suffer through, you realize they
00:23:39.841 --> 00:23:41.877
Through, you realize they made you into who you are. if
00:23:41.943 --> 00:23:44.412
Made you into who you are. if you'll do this i believe and
00:23:44.479 --> 00:23:46.448
You'll do this i believe and declare, like god did for
00:23:46.515 --> 00:23:48.283
Declare, like god did for jacob, you're not only going
00:23:48.350 --> 00:23:50.118
Jacob, you're not only going to see your rachel's, the
00:23:50.185 --> 00:23:51.586
To see your rachel's, the blessings, favor, healing,
00:23:51.653 --> 00:23:54.122
Blessings, favor, healing, but god is going to take
00:23:54.189 --> 00:23:55.257
But god is going to take those ugly situations and
00:23:55.323 --> 00:23:57.592
Those ugly situations and make something amazing out of
00:23:57.659 --> 00:23:59.194
Make something amazing out of them. you will rise higher,
00:23:59.261 --> 00:24:01.496
Them. you will rise higher, accomplish dreams, and reach
00:24:01.563 --> 00:24:03.598
Accomplish dreams, and reach the fullness of your destiny,
00:24:03.665 --> 00:24:05.600
The fullness of your destiny, in jesus' name. if you
00:24:05.667 --> 00:24:08.203
In jesus' name. if you receive it, can you say amen?
00:24:08.270 --> 00:24:11.006
It's easy to feel stuck in life
00:24:12.974 --> 00:24:14.776
It's easy to feel stuck in life wondering why
00:24:14.843 --> 00:24:15.443
Wondering why things aren't
00:24:15.510 --> 00:24:15.944
Things aren't changing and worrying
00:24:16.011 --> 00:24:17.145
Changing and worrying if it will ever happen,
00:24:17.212 --> 00:24:18.547
If it will ever happen, but there's
00:24:18.613 --> 00:24:19.247
But there's a better way to wait.
00:24:19.314 --> 00:24:20.649
I'd love to send you
00:24:20.749 --> 00:24:21.449
I'd love to send you my new resource called
00:24:21.516 --> 00:24:22.784
My new resource called pray it forward.
00:24:22.851 --> 00:24:24.119
Pray it forward. this book is a collection
00:24:24.185 --> 00:24:25.387
This book is a collection of prayers and promises
00:24:25.453 --> 00:24:26.755
Of prayers and promises from the scripture
00:24:26.821 --> 00:24:27.856
From the scripture to help you pray boldly
00:24:27.923 --> 00:24:29.424
To help you pray boldly to strengthen your faith.
00:24:29.491 --> 00:24:31.159
To strengthen your faith. while you're waiting,
00:24:31.226 --> 00:24:32.193
While you're waiting, it's important
00:24:32.260 --> 00:24:32.894
It's important to keep your mind
00:24:32.961 --> 00:24:33.762
To keep your mind filled with hope
00:24:33.828 --> 00:24:34.596
Filled with hope and expectancy.
00:24:34.663 --> 00:24:36.131
And expectancy. when you pray in faith,
00:24:36.197 --> 00:24:37.599
When you pray in faith, believe in what god promised,
00:24:37.666 --> 00:24:39.367
Believe in what god promised, that's what moves
00:24:39.434 --> 00:24:40.135
That's what moves the hands of god.
00:24:40.201 --> 00:24:41.236
The hands of god. and that's when you'll see
00:24:41.303 --> 00:24:42.203
And that's when you'll see doors open and healing
00:24:42.270 --> 00:24:43.805
Doors open and healing begins to come.
00:24:43.872 --> 00:24:44.706
Begins to come. breakthroughs in your family.
00:24:44.773 --> 00:24:46.441
Breakthroughs in your family. don't let doubt hold you back.
00:24:46.541 --> 00:24:48.143
Don't let doubt hold you back. pray it forward.
00:24:48.209 --> 00:24:49.411
Pray it forward. as our way of saying thank you
00:24:49.511 --> 00:24:51.279
As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount,
00:24:51.346 --> 00:24:53.048
For your gift of any amount, we'd love to
00:24:53.114 --> 00:24:53.915
We'd love to send you a copy of pray
00:24:53.982 --> 00:24:55.283
Send you a copy of pray it forward: guided prayers
00:24:55.350 --> 00:24:56.985
It forward: guided prayers for faith and breakthrough.
00:24:57.052 --> 00:24:58.687
Inspired by real liferough.
00:24:58.787 --> 00:25:00.388
Inspired by real liferough. answered prayers,
00:25:00.455 --> 00:25:01.489
Answered prayers, pray it forward will help you
00:25:01.556 --> 00:25:03.124
Pray it forward will help you speak god's promises
00:25:03.191 --> 00:25:04.492
Speak god's promises over your life
00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.393
Over your life and over the people you love.
00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:07.495
And over the people you love. trusting that when you ask
00:25:07.562 --> 00:25:09.164
Trusting that when you ask in faith,
00:25:09.230 --> 00:25:09.998
In faith, god is already at work
00:25:10.065 --> 00:25:11.733
God is already at work preparing victory ahead of you.
00:25:11.800 --> 00:25:14.035
Preparing victory ahead of you. you can take these prayers
00:25:14.102 --> 00:25:15.303
You can take these prayers and scriptures
00:25:15.370 --> 00:25:16.004
And scriptures and pray them forward.
00:25:16.071 --> 00:25:17.505
And pray them forward. they'll build
00:25:17.572 --> 00:25:18.206
They'll build a momentum of faith
00:25:18.273 --> 00:25:19.608
A momentum of faith that carries you past obstacles
00:25:19.674 --> 00:25:21.543
That carries you past obstacles and into the promises
00:25:21.610 --> 00:25:23.111
And into the promises god has spoken over your life.
00:25:23.211 --> 00:25:25.447
God has spoken over your life. as you meditate
00:25:25.513 --> 00:25:26.548
As you meditate on these truths,
00:25:26.615 --> 00:25:27.749
On these truths, you won't be tossed
00:25:27.816 --> 00:25:28.917
You won't be tossed back and forth
00:25:28.984 --> 00:25:29.751
Back and forth by finances, health challenges,
00:25:29.818 --> 00:25:31.853
By finances, health challenges, or relationship struggles.
00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:33.655
Or relationship struggles. instead,
00:25:33.722 --> 00:25:34.656
Instead, you'll be able to
00:25:34.723 --> 00:25:35.624
You'll be able to boldly pray with faith
00:25:35.690 --> 00:25:37.425
Boldly pray with faith that is immovable and strong,
00:25:37.492 --> 00:25:39.527
That is immovable and strong, and you'll
00:25:39.594 --> 00:25:40.161
And you'll be filled with peace,
00:25:40.228 --> 00:25:41.763
Be filled with peace, assurance, and joy.
00:25:41.830 --> 00:25:43.531
Assurance, and joy. don't let circumstances
00:25:43.598 --> 00:25:45.133
Don't let circumstances control your future.
00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:46.635
Control your future. pray the truth of god's
00:25:46.701 --> 00:25:48.203
Pray the truth of god's word forward in faith
00:25:48.269 --> 00:25:49.804
Word forward in faith and watch the mountains
00:25:49.871 --> 00:25:51.172
And watch the mountains in your life begin to move.
00:25:51.239 --> 00:25:53.541
When you pray the promises,
00:25:53.642 --> 00:25:55.377
When you pray the promises, what god has spoken over
00:25:55.443 --> 00:25:56.711
What god has spoken over your life,
00:25:56.778 --> 00:25:57.312
Your life, those are powerful prayers.
00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.880
Those are powerful prayers. and that's when
00:25:58.947 --> 00:25:59.648
And that's when god shows up and does
00:25:59.714 --> 00:26:00.915
God shows up and does what only he can do.
00:26:00.982 --> 00:26:02.617
What only he can do. thanks so much
00:26:02.684 --> 00:26:03.218
Thanks so much for being with us.
00:26:03.284 --> 00:26:04.352
For being with us. victoria and i pray for
00:26:04.419 --> 00:26:05.654
Victoria and i pray for you and your family every day
00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:07.422
You and your family every day and we appreciate your prayer
00:26:07.489 --> 00:26:09.157
And we appreciate your prayer and support.
00:26:09.224 --> 00:26:10.158
And support. your generosity
00:26:10.225 --> 00:26:11.259
Your generosity helps us
00:26:11.326 --> 00:26:11.793
Helps us take this message of hope
00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:13.128
Take this message of hope to people around the world.
00:26:13.194 --> 00:26:15.130
To people around the world. special
00:26:15.196 --> 00:26:15.497
Special thank you to our champion
00:26:15.563 --> 00:26:16.698
Thank you to our champion of hope partners
00:26:16.765 --> 00:26:17.766
Of hope partners for all you do
00:26:17.832 --> 00:26:18.500
For all you do to make the ministry possible.
00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:20.168
To make the ministry possible. if you're not a partner,
00:26:20.235 --> 00:26:21.403
If you're not a partner, i hope you'll
00:26:21.469 --> 00:26:21.970
I hope you'll consider becoming one.
00:26:22.037 --> 00:26:23.338
Consider becoming one. but until we meet again,
00:26:23.405 --> 00:26:24.839
But until we meet again, may the lord bless
00:26:24.906 --> 00:26:25.807
May the lord bless you and keep you.
00:26:25.874 --> 00:26:27.609
You and keep you. be sure to request
00:26:27.676 --> 00:26:28.710
Be sure to request your copy of pray
00:26:28.777 --> 00:26:29.911
Your copy of pray it forward:
00:26:29.978 --> 00:26:30.679
It forward: guided prayers for faith
00:26:30.745 --> 00:26:32.213
Guided prayers for faith and breakthrough,
00:26:32.280 --> 00:26:33.114
And breakthrough, available this month
00:26:33.181 --> 00:26:34.482
Available this month by simply visiting us
00:26:34.549 --> 00:26:35.850
By simply visiting us at joelosteen.com
00:26:35.917 --> 00:26:37.519
At joelosteen.com or call 888-567-joel.
00:26:37.585 --> 00:26:41.189
Or call 888-567-joel. you can also receive the pray
00:26:41.256 --> 00:26:42.991
You can also receive the pray it forward companion prayer
00:26:43.058 --> 00:26:44.592
It forward companion prayer journal, designed
00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:45.727
Journal, designed to help you engage
00:26:45.794 --> 00:26:46.895
To help you engage in scripture,
00:26:46.961 --> 00:26:47.762
In scripture, personalize
00:26:47.829 --> 00:26:48.563
Personalize faith-filled prayers,
00:26:48.630 --> 00:26:49.698
Faith-filled prayers, and put
00:26:49.764 --> 00:26:50.365
And put god's promises into action.
00:26:50.432 --> 00:26:52.400
God's promises into action. with an additional gift,
00:26:52.467 --> 00:26:53.802
With an additional gift, you can receive the pray
00:26:53.868 --> 00:26:55.136
You can receive the pray it forward prayers
00:26:55.203 --> 00:26:56.137
It forward prayers essential collection
00:26:56.204 --> 00:26:57.405
Essential collection that centers around
00:26:57.472 --> 00:26:58.473
A prayer
00:26:58.573 --> 00:26:58.973
Bowl with scripture cards,
00:26:59.074 --> 00:27:00.742
Bowl with scripture cards, designed to help you
00:27:00.809 --> 00:27:01.910
Designed to help you physically release
00:27:01.976 --> 00:27:02.977
Physically release what's been weighing
00:27:03.044 --> 00:27:03.812
What's been weighing on your heart.
00:27:03.878 --> 00:27:04.713
On your heart. this collection
00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.647
This collection creates a powerful prayer
00:27:05.714 --> 00:27:07.215
Creates a powerful prayer rhythm for your life, helping
00:27:07.282 --> 00:27:09.117
Rhythm for your life, helping you focus your thoughts,
00:27:09.184 --> 00:27:10.652
You focus your thoughts, speak god's word boldly,
00:27:10.719 --> 00:27:12.520
Speak god's word boldly, and stay anchored in hope.
00:27:12.587 --> 00:27:14.255
And stay anchored in hope. when circumstances try
00:27:14.322 --> 00:27:15.690
When circumstances try to shake you.
00:27:15.757 --> 00:27:16.791
To shake you. you can request
00:27:16.858 --> 00:27:17.692
You can request these inspiring resources
00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:19.327
These inspiring resources by calling 888-567-joel or
00:27:19.394 --> 00:27:23.164
By calling 888-567-joel or logging on to joelosteen.com
00:27:23.231 --> 00:27:25.533
Logging on to joelosteen.com today.
00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:26.267
Today. call or click anytime,
00:27:26.334 --> 00:27:28.103
Call or click anytime, 24 hours a day.
00:27:28.169 --> 00:27:29.010

Joel Osteen - Dealing With Ugly Situations

May 22, 2026 | 27:29

Closed captions

Share