How you handle difficulties will determine whether you make it into your promised land

08/05/25

Gospel  Corner

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
“But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.”
Psalm 81:11–12, NIV

How You Handle Difficulties
When the Israelites were out in the desert, rather than grow through the adversities they faced, they didn’t pass the test. They almost immediately became negative and bitter and complained when it wasn’t easy, when it was taking too long, when things weren’t going their way. God had brought them out of slavery, sent plagues on their oppressors, parted the Red Sea, drowned Pharaoh’s army, and provided them with manna every morning to eat. God didn’t do all those amazing things to leave them in the desert, but they said, “Moses, why did you bring us out into the desert to die?” Because they didn’t pass the test, because they never grew, never developed their faith and character, they spent forty years in the desert and never entered the Promised Land.

How you handle difficulties will determine whether you make it into your promised land. God has the good breaks, the right people, and the resources for you, but before that happens you have to prove to Him that you can handle it. Recognize that those are opportunities to come up higher.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are working out Your plan for my life in Your best way, including the difficult times when You test the quality of my faith. Thank You that You are preparing me for the next thing You have for me. Help me to always be faithful to You and pass the test. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

SECTION TWO

I love today’s Scripture. The answer, my friend, is found not in the law, but in the Son.

The law was given by a servant, Moses; grace came through the Son, Jesus. The grace revolution begins with a person and His name is Jesus.

When you have Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and a revelation of His grace, you have everything. You have, most importantly, a new and righteous identity in Christ.

Many believers don’t realize this but revelations can be stolen and forgotten. That’s what happened to the Corinthian church and Paul had to step in to remind them of their righteous identity in Christ.

This is also why it is so essential for you to be part of a local church where you can keep on hearing and hearing messages that are full of the person of Jesus, and be surrounded by Christ-centered leaders and friends who will always point you back to the Lord and your righteous identity in Christ.

I want to encourage you to have a daily consciousness of your righteousness in Christ by speaking and confessing your righteousness out loud. I believe that you know you are righteous in Christ, and that righteousness is a gift you cannot earn. While knowing this is fantastic, I want you to take a step further with me today and begin to practice confessing your righteousness in Christ daily.

My dear friend, when you are stressed out and a thousand things are screaming for your attention, say quietly under your breath, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ.” When you read some horrible news in the morning papers and your heart is gripped with fear for your loved ones, just say quietly under your breath, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ.” And when you are feeling a temptation to indulge again in a past addiction, now you know what to do: say quietly under your breath, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ.”

Your remaining in victory is directly related to how conscious you are of your righteous identity in Christ. If you truly desire to see lasting breakthroughs in your life and live above defeat, speak!

Speak out, speak up, and speak without doubt. And I promise you that you will live more stress free, more fearlessly, more boldly, and more victoriously than ever before!