God is using the waiting period to do a work in you.

Gospel Corner

09/04/25

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep traveling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing.
Psalm 37:34, TLB

Patience
When you’re waiting for a promise from God to come to pass, it’s easy to get frustrated and think, “God, if You’re going to bring this to pass in six months or in two years, why wait? Why don’t You bring the right person, or the healing, or the promotion now?” God knows what He’s doing. If He promoted you before you were ready, you wouldn’t be able to handle it. It would be a burden rather than a blessing. He has to get you prepared for what He has in store. He loves you too much to let it happen too soon.

You may have a promise from God in your heart, but you don’t see anything happening. God is using the waiting period to do a work in you. If you pass the test, if you have faith and patience, then you’re growing, your character is developing, your spiritual muscles are getting stronger. To take you to a higher level is going to require more integrity, more discipline, more commitment. Keep doing the right thing. Your season is coming.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that there is a purpose for times of waiting, whether I understand it or not. Help me to be patient, to keep traveling steadily along Your pathway, to be consistent, knowing that it’s all part of Your process. I believe that what You promised is still en route. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

People who believe erroneously that God is hard on them for their failures will inevitably be hard on the people around them, and most of all, they will end up being really hard on themselves. They cannot forgive themselves for the mistakes they’ve made in the past and end up punishing themselves, whether they know it or not.

It’s a vicious cycle of defeat. The more they can’t forgive themselves, the more they hurt themselves with all kinds of behaviors and the more they end up bound by various destructive addictions. This leads to even more guilt, which in turn drives them to punish themselves even more—and the cycle continues.

I believe the root cause of many sinful habits, fears, and addictions can be traced to condemnation. I want to talk to you today about going after condemnation as the root to help you receive God’s forgiveness in those areas so that you can break out of your cycle of defeat and step into a new cycle of victory.

Are you living with some unresolved guilt and condemnation today? I have great news for you. When you realize that God’s heart is not in condemnation but in forgiveness, your entire life can be turned around for His glory!

I have personally witnessed so many lives transformed when they just take a small step of faith to believe in His grace and receive His forgiveness in their lives.

Instead of punishing themselves for their mistakes and disqualifying themselves, these people began to correct their beliefs and receive God’s forgiveness by seeing Jesus taking on their punishment. They began to see their Savior qualifying them to receive every blessing from God for their marriages, families, and careers.

Right now I want to encourage you to release the built-up guilt and condemnation for whatever mistakes you’ve made over the years to the Lord.

Would you pray the prayer below with me? It’s a simple but powerful prayer. I encourage you to pray this prayer every time you fail and experience guilt and condemnation in your heart.

Stop punishing yourself—your answer is found at the cross of Jesus. I promise you that when you turn to Jesus and remind yourself just how forgiven and righteous you are in Christ every time you fall short, you will start living like the forgiven and righteous person Jesus has made you.

Lord Jesus, I don’t want to live under guilt and condemnation anymore. Today, I release all my failings, sins, and mistakes into Your loving hands. And I receive Your forgiveness right now into my heart. Thank You for Your precious blood that washes me whiter than snow. Right now I stand in Your righteousness, favor, joy, and peace. Amen!