Joel Osteen Podcast

Episode: Closed Doors Can't Stop You | Joel Osteen
Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Joel Osteen
Podcast Theme: Inspiration to reach your dreams, embrace fresh beginnings, and live your best life by seeing yourself as a masterpiece in progress.

Episode Overview

In this uplifting episode, Joel Osteen focuses on the concept of being "a masterpiece in the making." Drawing on Biblical references, personal experiences, and relatable stories, Joel encourages listeners not to be discouraged by their flaws or slow progress, but to trust that God—the ultimate Creator and Potter—is continually shaping them. Key themes include self-acceptance, patience with personal growth, and experiencing joy and peace regardless of imperfections.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Process of Becoming a Masterpiece

• God as the Potter, We as the Clay:
  Joel emphasizes that self-improvement is a process guided by God, not a solo effort.

  “The scripture says God is the potter, and we are the clay. He controls the process—when we change, how fast we change.” (05:30)

• Accepting Yourself During the Process:
  Listeners are encouraged to enjoy where they are now, rather than waiting to "arrive" before approving of themselves.

  “It takes maturity to have peace in the process. Even though you have areas you need to improve in, you’re not negative towards yourself.” (07:10)

2. Overcoming Performance Pressure and Self-Disapproval

• Avoiding the Trap of Constant Self-Criticism:
  Focusing on faults delays progress and robs joy.

  “If you don’t learn to enjoy yourself, where you are, faults and all, you’ll go your whole life feeling wrong on the inside.” (08:22)

• The Enemy’s Tactic:
  Joel suggests that self-disapproval serves only to hold you back from reaching your potential.

  “He knows if you live against yourself, you will never reach your potential.” (09:15)

3. God’s Approval Precedes Our Perfection

• Divine Acceptance Before Achievement:
  Referencing Jeremiah, Joel notes that God’s approval comes before we “get it all together.”

  “God told Jeremiah, before you were formed in your mother’s womb, I knew you and approved you.” (10:32)

• Give Yourself Grace:
  Don’t insist on perfect performance—give yourself permission to have weaknesses as God continues to mold you.

  “Give yourself permission to have some weaknesses. Give yourself the grace to not perform perfectly all the time.” (12:45)

4. Illustrations from Jeremiah and Peter

• Jeremiah’s Self-Doubt:
  Jeremiah felt inadequate, but God assured him of the provision and approval needed for his calling.

  “Say not that you’re too young. I will give you the words to speak. … I’ve already approved you. I’ve already anointed you.” (14:10)

• Peter as a Masterpiece in Progress:
  Joel recounts Peter’s many faults, highlighting how Jesus focused on Peter’s potential, not his present flaws.

  “Jesus said to him, ‘You are Simon, but you shall be called Peter.’ … Simon represents shifting sand, unstable, inconsistent, but Peter means rock.” (18:38)

  • Despite failures, Peter’s life demonstrates how God can use flawed individuals.

  “When Jesus said, ‘Follow me and I will make you,’ something switched in his mindset. The pressure is not on all me to do it. He’s going to make me.” (21:10)

5. The Metaphor of Art and Creation

• Masterpiece Analogy:
  Like Da Vinci with the Mona Lisa or Michelangelo with the Statue of David, God—the greatest Artist—is continually at work in us.

  “What made the difference was the maker. The good news is you have a maker. You have a designer. It’s not Michelangelo, it’s not Da Vinci—it’s the Most High God.” (16:50)

• Patience in the Artistic Process:
  Not every brushstroke may make sense now; trust that the final product will be magnificent.

  “There are strokes you may not understand, things that seem like flaws. By itself, it looks like a mistake. But stay patient. The Master is at work.” (17:40)

6. Personal Application and Joel’s Own Story

• Letting God Make You:
  Joel shares his own insecurities after stepping up as pastor, highlighting the importance of trusting God’s process.

  “When you’re about to step into a new level, the enemy will work overtime to try to make you feel unqualified, unworthy, like you don’t measure up.” (25:10) “I learned to say, ‘Talk to my Maker.’ … You can’t make yourself into a masterpiece. That’s your Maker’s job.” (26:40)

• Daily Affirmation:
  He challenges listeners to stop being against themselves and, instead, trust God and approve themselves despite imperfections.

  “Take the pressure off trying to perform perfectly. Do your best and trust God to take care of the rest.” (27:58)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On self-acceptance:

  “It’s very powerful when you can say, ‘I like myself. Yes, I have areas I need to improve in. … But I’m at peace with who I am right now.’” (08:05)

• On shifting focus:

  “The scripture says: looking away from all that will distract to Jesus—the author and finisher of our faith.” (09:42)

• On being a work in progress:

  “A masterpiece never makes itself. … It’s not up to you to become a masterpiece. That’s your Maker’s job.” (16:32)

• From God to every listener:

  “I will make you. … I know what you are right now. I know what you haven’t been able to overcome. But stay encouraged. You shall be is on the way.” (22:50)

• On the purpose of grace:

  “Being down on yourself is not going to help you do better. Until you like who you are, even though you have shortcomings, you’ll never reach your potential.” (28:05)

• Closing affirmation:

  “If you’ll do this, I believe and declare this is a new day. … You will become the masterpiece God created you to be, in Jesus’ name. And if you receive it, can you say Amen?” (28:16)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [01:21] — Joel introduces the main theme
• [05:30] — The analogy of God as potter and us as clay
• [08:22] — The burden of constant self-criticism
• [10:32] — God’s approval of Jeremiah
• [12:45] — Giving yourself grace and room for imperfection
• [14:10] — Jeremiah’s doubts vs. God’s assurances
• [16:32] — Masterpiece analogy: Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and God
• [18:38] — The transformation from Simon to Peter
• [21:10] — “Follow me and I will make you”—shifting responsibility from self to God
• [25:10] — Joel’s experience taking over the ministry
• [28:16] — Final blessings and affirmation

Final Takeaway

Joel Osteen’s powerful message invites listeners to rest in God’s ongoing work, to stop harsh self-judgment, and to embrace their unique journey as a “masterpiece in the making.” Letting go of the pressure to self-engineer change, and instead learning to trust, approve, and be patient with oneself, opens the door to experiencing peace and joy along the road to becoming all you were created to be.