Podcast Summary: "Don't Be Defined By Your Mistakes" | Joel Osteen Podcast
Host: Joel Osteen
Date: September 16, 2025
Episode Theme:
Joel Osteen encourages listeners not to let their past mistakes or failures define who they are or what they can achieve. Through personal stories, biblical examples, and uplifting affirmations, Joel shares how embracing God's forgiveness and new mercies allows us to move forward into our destinies, regardless of what lies behind us.
Main Insights & Discussion Points
1. The Danger of Defining Yourself by a Single Mistake
- (02:41–06:05) Joel opens by acknowledging that everyone has given in to temptation, made poor decisions, or faced failure.
- Emphasizes the enemy’s (Satan's) goal: to keep people living condemned, stuck to a negative label tied to their mistakes.
- Notable Quote:
“You may have failed, but you are not a failure. That was a moment in your life. That was one season. It doesn’t determine your future.” (03:50, Joel)
- Challenges listeners: Refuse to wear labels such as “divorced,” “addicted,” or “failure.”
- Cautions that people and society may remember and reinforce your failures, even when you have many victories.
2. Illustrative Story: Bill Buckner and Infamous Mistakes
- (04:55–07:27)
- Recounts Bill Buckner’s baseball career—his success overshadowed by one missed ground ball in the 1986 World Series.
- Despite an illustrious career, Buckner was defined in the media as the man who made "one of the most infamous plays" in baseball.
- Notable Quote:
“People will try to define you by your mistakes. They’ll try to stick labels on you, remind you of all the times you failed…Sadly, some people will choose to remember your failures more than your victories.” (06:28, Joel)
- Encouragement: Do not allow others, or your own memory, to override your destiny with a single failing.
3. Biblical Examples: Thomas—A Label Stuck in Time
- (08:25–11:32)
- Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, doubted the resurrection once and is forever remembered as “Doubting Thomas.”
- Joel points out that this doubt was merely “eight days of his life,” but it became his defining public narrative.
- Highlights Thomas' greater legacy: bringing Christianity to India, having an impact far beyond his doubt.
- Notable Quote:
“God is not judging you by one mistake, by one bad season. Why are you beating yourself up?” (10:50, Joel)
- God calls us redeemed, forgiven, anointed, not by our past mistakes.
4. God Refines, Not Defines, Through Mistakes: The Story of Moses
- (12:35–18:13)
- Moses made a major mistake (killed an Egyptian in haste). Spent 40 years in the desert, convinced he was disqualified.
- God’s calling is irrevocable; He did not change His mind about Moses.
- Notable Quote:
“God doesn’t define us by our mistakes. He refines us by our mistakes.” (16:24, Joel)
- Moses later became the most humble man, and his time in the desert prepared him for his calling.
- Encouragement:
“You may have blown it…Get ready, your time is coming. God is about to do a new thing.” (17:51, Joel)
5. Personal Story: Joel’s Father and Overcoming Condemnation
- (18:14–22:02)
- Joel shares about his father’s early divorce and being told he'd never pastor again.
- His father internalized these negative labels—“washed up,” “unqualified”—before learning that God’s mercy overcomes human judgment.
- Once he forgave himself, he founded Lakewood Church and made a lasting impact.
6. The Importance of Self-Forgiveness
- (22:03–24:28)
- Sometimes forgiving oneself is harder than forgiving others.
- “You can’t change what’s behind you, but you can do something about what’s in front of you. God’s mercy—bigger than any mistake you’ve made.”
- Notable Quote:
“The moment you ask God to forgive you, He forgave you. Not only that, He doesn’t remember your mistakes. Why don’t you quit remembering what God has forgotten?” (23:41, Joel)
7. Peter’s Denial—Failure Doesn’t Remove Your Calling
- (24:29–27:07)
- Peter denied Jesus three times, exactly as predicted, yet God still specifically called him out by name with grace (“…go tell his disciples and Peter…”).
- 50 days after his biggest failure, Peter preached at Pentecost, launching the Christian church.
- Notable Quote:
“If Peter can stand up 50 days after he denied Christ and start the church, then you too can still become all you were created to be.” (26:46, Joel)
8. What Looks Like Failure May Be Divine Preparation
- (27:08–30:13)
- Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert right after his baptism—a period that looked like failure or a mistake to the outside world.
- Sometimes God leads us into “desert seasons” and closed doors not to punish, but to prepare us for greater things.
- Notable Quote:
“Quit being discouraged over what didn’t work out…What looked like a failure…was really leading [Jesus] to a new level of his destiny.” (29:04, Joel)
9. Modern Example: A Friend’s Story of Ministry, Setback, and Greater Purpose
- (30:14–32:22)
- Joel’s friend pastored a church for 30 years, eventually losing it despite hard work. Felt like a failure; peers judged him harshly.
- A few years later, found a new calling with greater reach and fulfillment.
- Notable Quote:
“Maybe what you think is a failure is really just a desert experience. It’s all a part of God’s plan to get you to where you’ve never dreamed.” (31:55, Joel)
10. Challenge and Encouragement for Listeners
- (32:23–33:10)
- Don’t let the past taint your future.
- God doesn’t allow anything that can keep you from your purpose.
- Call to action: Remove negative labels, accept God’s new names—Forgiven, Redeemed, Child of the Most High God.
- Notable Closing Declaration:
“Despite your mistakes, despite your failures, despite your doubts, you are still going to leave your mark and become who you were created to be. Right now guilt is leaving. Discouragement is leaving. Favor is coming. Promotion is coming...In Jesus’ name.” (32:57, Joel)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “You may have failed, but you are not a failure. That was a moment in your life. That was one season. It doesn’t determine your future.”
(03:50, Joel Osteen) - “People will try to define you by your mistakes. They’ll try to stick labels on you, remind you of all the times you failed…Sadly, some people will choose to remember your failures more than your victories.”
(06:28, Joel Osteen) - “God doesn’t define us by our mistakes. He refines us by our mistakes. He will take those failures and those wrong turns and use it to do a work in us.”
(16:24, Joel Osteen) - “Why don’t you quit remembering what God has forgotten?”
(23:41, Joel Osteen) - “If Peter can stand up 50 days after he denied Christ and start the church, then you too can still become all you were created to be.”
(26:46, Joel Osteen) - “What looked like a failure, what looked like he was off course, was really leading him to a new level of his destiny.”
(29:04, Joel Osteen) - “It was the Spirit leading me. It was God taking me through a silent season so he could launch me further than I thought possible.”
(31:55, Joel Osteen)
Key Timestamps
- 04:55: Bill Buckner’s story—how a public error eclipsed decades of success.
- 08:25: “Doubting Thomas”: How we judge others/ourselves by a single episode.
- 12:35: Moses’ mistake and God’s undeterred calling.
- 18:14: Joel’s father—overcoming church condemnation and starting afresh.
- 24:29: Peter’s denial and rise—how God singles out failures for renewal.
- 27:08: Jesus’ “desert experience” as divine set-up, not failure.
- 30:14: Personal example: Loss in ministry sets up for greater impact.
- 32:23: Powerful closing declaration and affirmations for listeners.
Final Message & Challenge
Joel closes by urging listeners to reject negative self-labels and see themselves as God sees them: forgiven, redeemed, and valued. Regardless of past mistakes, a greater destiny awaits if we embrace God’s mercy and let go of condemnation.
“Despite your mistakes, despite your failures, despite your doubts, you are still going to leave your mark and become who you were created to be.” (32:57)
For anyone struggling with shame, regret, or discouragement over past failures, this episode is a powerful source of hope and a reminder that your story is not over, and your mistakes do not define you.