Podcast Summary

Joel Osteen Podcast – "God Is In Control Of The Storm"

Host: Joel Osteen
Date: November 6, 2025

Episode Overview

In this uplifting message, Joel Osteen addresses how to maintain faith and confidence during life's storms, emphasizing that God remains in control through every adversity. Drawing from personal anecdotes, biblical narratives, and real-life examples, he encourages listeners to trust in God’s sovereignty, relinquish worry, and see difficulties as divinely purposed transitions to greater blessings. Osteen’s central message: The storms intended for harm can be the very winds God uses to propel us into our destiny.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. God’s Sovereignty in All Circumstances

• Faith Isn't for Just the Good Times:
  • We readily see God’s hand in blessings, but faith is also about trusting Him in difficulties.
  • "Having faith doesn’t exempt us from difficulties. The storms of life come to every person." (03:50)
• Storms Have Divine Purpose:
  • God allows storms not to harm us, but to move us towards our divine destiny.

2. Biblical Examples of Storms with Purpose

• Paul’s Shipwreck (Acts 27):
  • Paul faced a life-threatening storm despite being on God’s assignment.
  • The crew, after exhausting their efforts, relinquished control and let the wind blow the ship as it would.
  • "There comes a point when you’ve done everything that you can…Quit fighting it, quit trying to make it happen your way." (08:50)
• Meaning in the Unexpected:
  • The storm took Paul to Malta, where he ministered and miracles happened—God’s broader plan unfolded in the unplanned detour.
  • "That storm didn’t stop God’s plan. It was a part of God’s plan." (25:55)

3. Personal Testimony – Losing His Father

• Coping with Loss:
  • After his father's passing, Osteen faced uncertainty and outside negativity about Lakewood Church’s future.
  • "This was one of those storms…We couldn’t see the end. But the truth is, God was still in control." (12:30)
  • He learned to “let go of the sails” and trust God’s wind, transitioning from behind-the-scenes to lead pastor, an outcome only possible because of the storm.
• Message of Relinquishing Control:
  • Release the need to orchestrate outcomes, trust God’s direction.

4. Letting Go, Trusting, and Receiving Greater Blessings

• From Resistance to Release:
  • Use faith not to eliminate every challenge, but to believe God will guide you through—to where you need to be.
  • "Instead of using our faith to try to pray away every difficulty, we should use our faith to believe that…we’ll be exactly where God wants us to be." (06:15)
• What’s Meant for Harm Becomes Advantage:
  • God turns setbacks into setups for greater things.
  • "What is meant for your harm, God will use to your advantage." (14:21)

5. Real-World Stories of Transformation

• Executive’s Layoff and New Success:
  • After being terminated, an executive forgave, dreamed bigger, and built an even greater company.
  • "The winds that were meant to destroy you, God knows how to shift them and use them to increase you." (17:37)
• Cancer Survivor Becomes Encourager:
  • A Lakewood attendee, once a cancer patient, now volunteers to pray for other cancer patients.
  • "Your test will become your testimony where you can tell people, hey, look: God did it for me, He can do it for you." (23:56)
• Special Needs Ministry Births from Family’s Storm:
  • Inspired by his own son’s autism, staff began the ‘Champions’ class for special needs children, now emulated nationwide.
  • "God used that storm to blow him to people in need." (27:54)

6. Biblical Heroes Enduring Storms

• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:
  • Not always delivered from the fire, but made fireproof within it.
  • "There are two kinds of faith: delivering faith and sustaining faith." (20:59)
• Daniel in the Lion’s Den:
  • Daniel was "lion-proof" because he trusted God amid impending danger, resting peacefully among the lions.

7. Practical Encouragements for the Listener

• Let Go and Let God:
  • Be willing to let the wind of adversity carry you to places of blessing and impact, instead of fighting the inevitable.
  • "When you relinquish control…I'm going to trust you. When you come back to that place of peace, [know that] God is in control of the storm." (29:35)
• Be an Eagle, Not a Victim:
  • Rise above adversity by stretching your faith, letting the wind lift you—the struggle isn’t meant to defeat you, but to promote you.

8. Turning Tests into Testimonies

• Storms Shape Our Story:
  • The hardships we endure become the stories that encourage and uplift others.
  • "What is now your test will become your testimony." (29:10)
• Bless Others During Your Storm:
  • Even while facing struggles, seek to be a blessing; as you help others, you’ll find your own breakthrough.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "God will not allow a storm unless He has a divine purpose for it. He never said He would prevent every difficulty. But God did promise He would use every difficulty." (04:15)
• "If that storm was going to keep you from your destiny, God would have never allowed it." (05:56)
• "Quit fighting it. Quit trying to make it happen your way." (08:50)
• "God will never take you someplace where He won't sustain you." (10:27)
• "That storm didn’t defeat him, it promoted him." (12:41) — speaking of his father’s death
• "If God wanted you to have that job where you were laid off, you would still have it. Let it go. He has something better." (18:54)
• "Delivering faith is when God keeps you from the fire…Sustaining faith is when God takes you through the storm." (21:09)
• "God is saying, come back to that place of peace. He has you in the palm of His hand." (24:05)
• "When an eagle faces a storm…he simply stretches out his wings and lets the strong winds lift him higher and higher." (28:42)
• "Shake off the discouragement…get ready for God to do something new. Those winds that are blowing against you are about to shift directions and start thrusting you forward." (29:24)

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Focus | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:32 | Opening prayer/Bible affirmation | | 04:00 | Introduction: God’s control in good & bad times | | 08:36 | Relinquishing control during a storm (Paul’s shipwreck) | | 12:24 | Personal story: Loss of his father, transition at Lakewood | | 17:37 | Executive’s layoff testimony on letting go and finding greater blessing | | 20:59 | Delivering faith vs. sustaining faith (Hebrew children in the furnace) | | 23:56 | Cancer survivor: Turning test into a testimony | | 25:55 | Storms take us to unexpected places for God’s greater plan (Paul at Malta) | | 27:54 | Special needs ministry story: Champions class | | 28:42 | Eagle analogy—let adversity lift you higher | | 29:24 | Closing declarations: Overcoming and rising above storms |

Final Uplift: Key Takeaways for Listeners

• God’s in control, even (and especially) in the storm.
• Let go of worry—God uses adversity to move you to new levels of blessing.
• Release bitterness, trust God, and allow the winds to carry you forward.
• What was meant for your harm can and will be used by God to your advantage.
• Stay faithful and help others even while in your own storm—your test is your testimony.

"Now I believe and declare you will overcome every obstacle. You will rise above every storm. You will accomplish your dreams. You will fulfill your God destiny in Jesus' name…if you receive it, give the Lord a shout of praise today." (29:24)

This episode is packed with encouragement, practical spiritual guidance, and relatable testimonies, offering comfort and hope to anyone weathering their own storm.