Podcast Summary: Believing When You're Not Seeing | Joel Osteen Podcast

Host: Joel Osteen
Date: September 30, 2025
Episode Theme:
Joel Osteen explores the concept of maintaining faith and belief during seasons when there are no visible signs of progress. Drawing from biblical stories, personal anecdotes, and memorable metaphors, Osteen encourages listeners to persist, trust, and expect fulfillment of promises even in times of silence and apparent inactivity.

Main Theme & Purpose

Joel Osteen’s message centers around the challenge of “believing when you’re not seeing”—maintaining unwavering faith in God's promises despite a lack of outward evidence. He emphasizes that God often works behind the scenes and that breakthrough comes to those who refuse to give up during silent, stagnant, or discouraging times.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Test of Silent Seasons

• Faith is easy when progress is visible (health improves, relationships heal, dreams start manifesting).
• The real test is when “you can't see any sign of what you're believing for” ([03:14]).
• During this “season of silence,” it’s tempting to wonder if praying, giving, and waiting are actually effective.

“Just because you don't see anything happening doesn't mean God is not working behind the scenes. Things are changing that you can't see.”
— Joel Osteen ([04:16])

2. God Works in Secret

• Osteen reassures listeners that much of God’s work is done in secret, preparing people, opportunities, and breakthroughs invisible to the human eye ([05:00]).
• Listeners are urged not to give up: the breakthrough may be imminent, even if signs are absent.

3. The Mother Eagle Analogy

• The life of faith is compared to a mother eagle sitting on her egg for 35 days—even without any visible changes, she remains steadfast with “no sign that what's on the inside of the egg is alive” ([08:55]).
• Unlike human pregnancy, there are no outward signs of life. The mother eagle trusts, and “on the 35th day after no signs of life, suddenly the little eagle starts pecking out of the shell” ([09:28]).

“I don't have to see a sign. I don't have to feel a kick. I know my baby is alive. I know my due season is coming.”
— Joel Osteen ([11:20])

• The analogy encourages believers to continue “sitting on that egg”—persisting in faith, thanksgiving, and expectation.

4. Walking By Faith, Not by Sight

• Most of God’s promises “burst forth like an eagle, not like a person”—they develop unseen until suddenly emerging ([13:55]).
• Osteen emphasizes the need to “walk by faith and not by sight,” as God often requires belief long before showing tangible progress.

5. Biblical Examples

• The Walls of Jericho: Israelites were commanded to march around the walls for seven days with no visible change; only after completing the task did the walls fall ([16:20]).
• Abraham and Sarah: God promised them a child in their old age; for 25 years they saw no evidence but remained steadfast ([23:35]).

“Abraham considered not the weakness of his own body, nor the deadness of Sarah's womb... He wasn't moved by what he saw.”
— Joel Osteen ([24:04])

6. Modern Testimonies of Perseverance

• Friend’s 20-year Wait for Children: A friend of Osteen’s persistently believed for children, preparing and speaking faith even after doctors gave no hope. After twenty years, she gave birth to twins at age 53 ([20:30]).
• Sabrina’s Exoneration: A young woman wrongly convicted was the first to be released from death row, despite years with no evidence things would change ([26:28]).

“You can be the first. You can be the one to set a new standard. Don't be moved by what you don't see, by what you don't have, by who's against you. God being for you is more than the world being against you.”
— Joel Osteen ([27:10])

7. Practical Encouragement: Stay in a Warm Environment

• Osteen urges listeners to “keep your promise in a warm environment” through continual praise and thanksgiving, drawing the analogy to the eagle keeping the egg warm ([28:35]).
• Caution against complaining; instead, express gratitude for what is to come.

8. Declaration & Call to Faith

• The episode concludes with Osteen declaring blessings and breakthroughs, encouraging the audience not to step away from faith just before their miracle ([29:45]).

“What you thought was dead… things you didn't see any improvement, they're about to suddenly come back to life. Healing, promotions, breakthroughs, marriages, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name.”
— Joel Osteen ([29:50])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I'm not moved by what I see. I'm moved by what I know.” ([05:18])
• “If God showed us what he was up to, yes, it wouldn’t be as difficult to believe. But that wouldn’t take any faith.” ([12:15])
• “Quit being discouraged because you haven't felt a kick… Nothing is wrong. That doesn't mean it's not going to happen.” ([13:30])
• “Don’t talk yourself out of it. Keep thanking God that it’s on the way. Keep sitting on that egg, not moved by what's not changing. Walking by faith and not by sight.” ([22:30])
• “Is your promise in a warm environment?” ([28:35])

Important Timestamps

• 03:14 — The real test of faith in seasons of silence
• 08:55 — The mother eagle illustration begins
• 11:20 — Trusting the process without any sign
• 16:20 — Israelites and the walls of Jericho
• 20:30 — Modern testimony: 20-year wait for a child
• 23:35 — Abraham and Sarah’s faith journey
• 26:28 — Sabrina’s wrongful imprisonment & miraculous release
• 28:35 — Keeping the promise “warm” with praise
• 29:50 — Closing encouragement and faith declaration

Tone & Language

• Encouraging, Story-Driven, Relatable.
• Osteen uses humor (“I wrote a check” joke at the start, [01:40]), personal and biblical stories, and rhetorical repetition for emphasis.
• Language is simple yet uplifting, consistently urging perseverance, gratitude, and trust in God’s process.

Key Takeaways

• Don’t give up just because circumstances seem unchanged.
• God works behind the scenes—faith is crucial in the “invisible” seasons.
• Maintain hope, use positive declarations, and create an environment of praise.
• Sometimes, God wants you to be the “first” to experience a new level of breakthrough.
• Your “35th day”—the moment of breakthrough—may be much closer than you realize.

For more inspiration, visit Joel Osteen’s website at joelosteen.com.