The Rain Seems like a setback, but it’s setting you up for greater levels.

11/ 03/25

Gospel Corner

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
…for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
1 Corinthians 16:9, ESV

Desert Bloom
If you’ve ever seen a desert bloom with a wide variety of wildflowers, it can be an awesome sight. The blossoming occurs when high levels of rainfall reach and germinate seeds and bulbs that have been in a dormant state. While excessive spring rainfalls often cause flooding and damage, the resulting flowering desert can be phenomenal.

The apostle Paul says we should never let the rains of adversity to fool us. There may be flooding now—someone walked away, disappointment, a contract fell through, sickness—but the rain is necessary. There are seeds in you that will only open up by going through excessive rain. The rain seems like a setback, but it’s setting you up for greater levels.

You’re tempted to get discouraged and give up, but on the other side of that difficulty is favor that you’ve never seen.

Get ready. God is setting you up to blossom, to flourish, to see new growth and greater favor.

You’re going to see God do what only He can do. Your best days are still in front of you.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the gifts and talents and seeds of greatness You have given me. Thank You for every door of opportunity You open for me, and that adversity is only a sign that You are about to do something amazing. I believe that You have the final say. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The cross, my friend, is the foundation for lasting breakthroughs and genuine inside-out transformation! I submit to you that many people are unable to experience lasting breakthroughs from their fears, addictions, and bondages because they don’t yet understand the gospel of grace.

You can evaluate how well you understand what Jesus accomplished at the cross for you by looking at how free you are in Christ today. Are you constantly struggling with thoughts of fear, doubt, guilt, and condemnation? Are you persistently entangled in a sinful habit or addiction?

If that is you, you need to study, meditate upon, and feed on the gospel of grace. Don’t back away from grace; be strong in the grace of God extended to you. Be strong in understanding that your sins are forgiven. Be strong in the knowledge that you are justified by faith through grace. Be strong in the revelation that today, you are the righteousness of God in Christ.

When you are strong in the gospel of grace, you will produce a godly, holy, and glorious life! In the same way that you can’t touch water and not become wet, you can’t “touch” grace and not become holy.

And this holiness is a true holiness that comes from the inside out. It is a holiness that flows from a heart that has been emancipated from self-condemnation.

We are not talking about superficial outward changes. We are talking about changes that happen in the deepest recesses of a person’s heart, motivations, and thoughts. Real change in a person whose heart is washed by the precious blood of Jesus and touched by His grace brings lasting breakthroughs.