God Is In Your Story | Victoria Osteen

Summary

Podcast Summary: "God Is In Your Story" | Joel & Victoria Osteen

Joel Osteen Podcast | Episode Date: January 10, 2026

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Overview

In this episode, titled "God Is In Your Story," Joel and Victoria Osteen offer listeners inspiration for the new year by emphasizing that God is intimately involved in the details of each person’s life. Through relatable stories and biblical examples—most notably the story of the woman at the well—Joel and Victoria encourage listeners to see themselves as close to God, never too far or too flawed for His love and transformational work. The tone is warm, inviting, and filled with hope, typical of the Osteens’ faith-based motivational style.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Changing Your Perspective—From Distance to Nearness

• Joel opens with a metaphor from his own experience at a theater, struggling to see the stage from a distant seat, until using binoculars (01:34–02:46).
  • This experience leads into a discussion on how distance creates disconnection, but tools like binoculars close that distance, offering clarity and intimacy.
• Spiritual Application:
  • “Ephesians 2:13 says this: in Christ you who were once far away have been brought near by the blood of Jesus.” (02:51–03:31, Joel)
  • Just as binoculars bring the stage closer, Jesus bridges the gap between God and people.

2. God Sees and Values You, No Matter What

• Victoria reassures: Even among 7 billion people, God sees each person individually.
  • “How do you see little old me? … Have you forgotten or can you even see me? We've all had those thoughts.” (04:06–04:22, Joel)
  • Encouragement: Doubt does not drive God away; instead, God is always present, "as close as the very breath we breathe." (04:25, Joel)
• You don’t have to clean up first.
  • “Some people think they need to change their life before they can draw near to God… But can I tell you today that you can't clean your own life up…” (04:49–05:13, Joel)
  • God accepts us as we are and transforms us from the inside out.

3. The Woman at the Well—Breaking Social Barriers

• Biblical story: John 4, Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman (06:28–11:47).
  • Significance:
    • Jesus "had to" go to Samaria, breaking social and religious norms (07:10, Victoria & Joel).
    • The woman came with an earthly perspective, unaware of her divine encounter:
      • “Have you ever had an earthly perspective? … She didn’t realize she was gonna leave with a heavenly perspective.” (07:34–08:01, Victoria & Joel)
    • Jesus addresses her hidden life openly yet without condemnation.
      • “This guy knows all about me, and he’s still talking to me… and he still wants to have a conversation with me. He still wants to give me this living water.” (09:37–09:46, Victoria)
  • Key takeaway:
    • “We can come to him just like we are.” (10:43, Joel)
    • “Jesus has a need to get to you. He is offering you living water. But all we have to do is say yes and drink that water.” (10:52-11:15, Victoria)

4. Authentic Worship and Receiving Living Water

• Worship in spirit and truth:
  • “God is looking at us through his binoculars of Jesus, the distance that was once there. He’s brought us close. He hasn’t brought us close because we’re perfect…” (11:47, Joel)
  • Victoria expands:
    • “She [the Samaritan woman] didn’t feel judgment. She didn’t feel condemned. And he said, these are the people I’m looking for. People that’ll draw close to me in all of the truth of who they are.” (12:17, Victoria)
• Receiving transformation:
  • “When you say yes to Jesus, you may be saved, but you got some junk in you that needs to be worked out.” (12:53–13:00, Victoria & Joel)
  • God’s living water is a continual source of inner renewal (13:32–13:47).

5. Embrace Your Story—Let God Write It

• Let God work in you:
  • “Let God do the work in you. Let him work out those things that you so desperately want to get rid of. And you will enjoy that heavenly perspective and God will get you to everywhere that you need to be.” (14:53–15:10, Joel)
  • The new year is presented as an opportunity for reset and renewal, with practical encouragement to take one step at a time.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We've just got to recognize that he's as close as the very breath that we breathe.”
  — Joel Osteen, 04:25

• “You can't bring the change that God wants to bring in your life until you realize he's right there with you and you accept him into your life and you go to him daily.”
  — Joel Osteen, 05:13

• “This guy knows all about me, and he's still talking to me… But this guy knows the truth, and he still wants to have a conversation with me.”
  — Victoria Osteen, 09:37

• “We can come to him just like we are.”
  — Joel Osteen, 10:43

• “When you drink from this living water, it will be a continual spring.”
  — Joel Osteen, 13:39

• “Let God do the work in you… and you will enjoy that heavenly perspective and God will get you to everywhere that you need to be.”
  — Joel Osteen, 14:53–15:10

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Important Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Theater/Binoculars story, spiritual metaphor | 01:34–03:31 | | God draws us near in Jesus (application) | 03:31–04:43 | | Doubt & assurance: God sees you | 04:06–05:13 | | You don’t need to fix yourself first | 04:49–05:13 | | John 4: Woman at the Well story | 06:28–11:47 | | Breaking spiritual/social barriers | 07:10–11:15 | | Worship in spirit and truth | 11:47–12:45 | | Daily renewal—living water | 12:53–13:47 | | Let God write your story/Conclusion | 14:53–15:10 |

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Final Encouragement & Tone

The Osteens conclude by infusing the message with hopeful expectation for the new year:

• “It's a new year. Time to see the impossible become possible. Life setbacks are about to become God's setups for new opportunity.” (15:39, Joel)
• “The start of the new year is the perfect time to reset your focus, release disappointments of the past and get ready for the new things God has in store.” (15:55, Victoria)

Their message is consistent: No matter your past, distance, or doubts, God is intimately involved—right in the midst of your story. Accept His nearness, let Him transform you, and trust Him to lead you into a new season of blessing.

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For further listening or resources, visit JoelOsteen.com or tune in for daily messages.

Transcript

[Joel Osteen]

Choose to show up.

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[Joel Osteen]

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[Victoria Osteen]

Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

If you enjoyed today's message, why don't you be a blessing and share it with a friend.

[Victoria Osteen]

We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Thank you Father. We bless the name of Jesus. Amen.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

I was at the Wertham center watching a theatrical play with about five of my friends. We decided to go kind of at the last minute and our seats were way back in the back. They weren't good seats at all. So there was five of us in bad seats with one pair of binoculars. Yeah, that's really interesting. One pair of binoculars among five people. Yeah. I can remember watching the play and I felt so disconnected from the story because I really couldn't see the stage well enough.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

And I don't know if you're over.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

40 in here today, but you know.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

When you can't see, you feel like you can't hear. So I was waiting and waiting and.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Waiting for those binoculars to make their way into my hands.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

And when they finally did, I was.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

So excited I I pulled those binoculars up to my face and focused in on the stage and it was amazing. I could see the expression on the actors faces. I could hear so well. In fact I felt like I was on the stage with them and part of the story, you see My perspective.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Had totally changed because the distance between.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

My seat and the stage was closed. See, once which was far away became near to me. Ephesians 2:13 says this in Christ, you who were once far away have been brought near by the blood of Jesus. You see, we've all been far away from God. We've all experienced bad seats, so to speak. But can I tell you this, that through the binoculars of Jesus Christ, God has drawn us near to Him.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

He has closed the gap between God.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

The Father and us. Through the binoculars of Jesus Christ. See, God is an up close and personal God today. And he wants to draw you unto Himself.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

He wants you to know that there.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Doesn'T have to be distance between you.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

He wants you to know today that there may be 7 billion people on this planet. And it's easy to think God out of all these people.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

How do you see little old me? You've heard my prayers. God.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

I feel like things aren't changing quick enough. I'm still in this situation.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

God. Have you forgotten or can you even see me? We've all had those thoughts.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

We've all felt that doubt.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

But that doesn't stop God. That doesn't chase God off. God is right there with us. He is in our story. He is on our stage. We've just gotta recognize that he's as close as the very breath that we breathe.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

And that the distance between us has.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Been closed through Jesus Christ.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

You see, some people think that they.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Need to change their life before they can draw near to God. They need to clean up a few things. You know, sometimes just the way we live our life makes us feel distant from Almighty God. But can I tell you today that you can't clean your own life up.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

You can't bring the change that God.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Wants to bring in your life until you realize he's right there with you and you accept him into your life and you go to him daily. Because it's God who works in us and through us. You see, the gap has been closed. There is nothing that God cannot do for you through Jesus Christ.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

There's no mess that you made that he can't help you clean up. There's nothing on the inside of you.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

That would make you distant from God. You see, he loves you just the way you are.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

In fact, the Bible says when we.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Were still sinners, we, we were far away because that gap was full of sin. He came to us through Jesus Christ.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

He came to us. We didn't come to Him.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Today, he's with you. He's drawing you don't let anything stand between you and God the Father. He wants a relationship with you. Today.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

It's as easy as that. Every single day.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

No matter what we're carrying, no matter what we feel, no matter what we did, he still wants a relationship with you. There's a beautiful story in John 4. Jesus was coming from Judea, heading to Galilee with his disciples. He said, I have need to go to Samaria. Now, Samaria was on the way to Galilee. But Jewish people never go through Samaria. In fact, they would take the long way around just to avoid going through Samaria. Because Jews and Samaritans didn't like each other. They didn't mix. But he told his disciple, I have to break protocol.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

I have to break the rules.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

I need to go to Samaria. He needed to go to Samaria because he had an appointment with a woman at the well. The woman came with her watering jar. That's where all the women came to collect water for their daily needs.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

She came with her watering jar.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

She thought it was just a normal day. She did not realize that she had an appointment with living water. She got there that day with an earthly perspective. Have you ever had an earthly perspective? I'm just going to work. I'm taking my kids to school. I'm doing the dishes. I'm running my errands. She came that day with an earthly perspective.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

She didn't realize she was gonna leave.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

With a heavenly perspective.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

You see, Jesus.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Drew her unto himself.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

She thought she was just drawing water.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Something that would be a temporary fix for the day. But he offered her something greater than that. He offered her living water. So she got a little closer to him. Now, you have to realize, this woman came to the well at noon, and the story is this. She wanted to avoid the other women that came in the morning at the cool of the day. So she said, I don't care if it's hot. I want to get in and I want to get out. I want to avoid the women at the well. I want to stay to myself. I want to stay isolated. You see, the enemy wants us to be isolated. But Jesus said, you don't have to be isolated. I'm going to give you this gift of living water. And as they begin to have a conversation, he said to her, go get your husband. She paused and she said, I don't have a husband. And he said, that's the truth. He said, you've had five husbands, and the man that you're with now is not your husband. Well, that really got her Attention. Because she's thinking, this guy knows all about me, and he's still talking to me. Hey, there's people that think a lot of things about me, and they won't talk to me. But this guy knows the truth.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

And he still wants to have a conversation with me. He still wants to give me this living water. Because, see, she thought he was going.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

To say, oh, you don't have a husband. Mm, I know. Forget the living water. You don't deserve the living water. You're not living right. Only perfect people deserve the living water. But Jesus said, when you drink from this water, from this fountain, you'll never thirst again. You see, he was giving her a heavenly perspective. She didn't understand all of what he was saying, but she certainly got to know him a little better and realize this man is different. This man is drawing me unto himself.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

This man is breaking protocol.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

This man is offering me living water. Do you know what I love about this man?

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Jesus?

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

We can come to him just like we are.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

You see, he had a need to.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Go to this woman, and he broke.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Protocol to get to her. Jesus has a need to get to you. He is offering you living water. But all we have to do is say, yes and drink that water. You see, she came to the realization that this was the Messiah offering her salvation.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Her people have talked about the Messiah for years. She literally left there and ran to the town square.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

The people she was trying to avoid got right in the middle of them and started saying, come meet a man that knows everything about me and he still likes me. In fact, he loves me. You gotta come see this man. Might he be the Messiah? Because he sure isn't like you.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

You see, the Bible goes on about Jesus talking about people who will be worshipers, worshipers in spirit and in truth. That's who God is seeking. What I want us to see today, that God is looking at us through his binoculars of Jesus, the distance that was once there. He's brought us close. He hasn't brought us close because we're perfect, because we do everything right.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

He's looking for people who will worship him in spirit and in truth. When she spoke truth to him, he said, that's right. And then she continued to worship him. She continued to get close to him because she didn't feel judgment. She didn't feel condemned. And he said, these are the people I'm looking for. People that'll draw close to me in all of the truth of who they are. People who will take this living water.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

And let it quench Them every single day.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

See, the Bible says that we are.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

To work out our salvation.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

See, when you say yes to Jesus, you may be saved, but you got.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Some junk in you that needs to be worked out.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

And God is saying this living water is available to to you every single day. You don't have to run from me.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

You can run to me.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

You don't have to try to quench.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Your thirst by going to other people, by bad habits, by things of this.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

World has to offer.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Come to me and let the living water which will bubble up out of.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

You be the pool of refreshing for.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

You, for your thirsty soul.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Listen, if you've been in this world.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Long enough, you realize you can get thirsty mighty quick. Listen, there's a lot of thirst going on. But Jesus said when you drink from this living water, it will be a continual spring.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

It will wash you, it will wash.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Away the desires that you really don't want anymore anyway. But you gotta be that person who is willing to worship him in spirit, his spirit, and in the truth of who you are, the truth of who you are becoming. You see, when you are one with him, which you are, the Bible says that he made the two out of one, Jesus and us became one. He is the binocular that God is looking at us through. He doesn't see your failures, he doesn't see your mistakes. He sees you in Jesus Christ.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

He sees you as righteous. He sees you as who you are.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Listen, don't let your earthly perspective keep you from letting that refreshing come to you every day.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Because within you is a heavenly perspective.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

Effective. You've just got to latch onto it.

[Victoria Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

You've got to take it, take hold of it.

[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

And you've got to know that God is working in you to will and to do his good pleasure. Listen, you don't need anything but Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone is going to change your life. So I would encourage you, just like that woman, you need to come and drink of the living water. Don't try to clean yourself up first. Let God do the work in you. Let him work out those things that you so desperately want to get rid of. And you will enjoy that heavenly perspective and God will get you to everywhere that you need to be. Amen. He's an awesome God.

[Joel Osteen]

It's a new year. Time to see the impossible become possible. It's a new year. Life setbacks are about to become God's setups for new opportunity. It's a new year. Cherished dreams will become unexpected reality.

[Victoria Osteen]

The start of the new year is the perfect time to reset your focus, release disappointments of the past and get ready for the new things God has in store. Every January we create a new 365 day devotional calendar. I'd love to send it to you. Each day is filled with inspiration, scripture and uplifting declarations to fuel your faith. When you begin the day thanking God for what he's done, speaking victory over your future, you're positioning yourself for a blessed, favor filled year. Amazing things happen when you keep God First Place.

[Joel Osteen]

As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount this first month of the year we would like to send you a copy of our brand new 365 Day 2026 devotional calendar. Do you want to overcome your most pressing challenges in 2026? Do you want to see your life take off in new directions of influence, favor and provision in the year ahead? With this daily encouragement, you'll not only smile at your day, you'll be reminded that God is smiling on your entire life. Each day will be a fresh new day. Turn discouragement to encouragement, frustration to fulfillment, anxiety to overcoming. Start each morning knowing that it's God's desire to turn what seems like an ordinary life into extraordinary favor, strength and opportunities. Using this devotional calendar is as easy as 1 2, 3 1. Wake up with an expectancy in your heart.

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2.

[Joel Osteen]

Reflect on the daily scripture verse and devotional from Joel. 3. Capture the Lord's promises to you on journaling lines for writing and reflection.

[Victoria Osteen]

2026 is going to be one of your best years ever. We're going to help you stay in faith so you can see the goodness of God in new ways. Victoria and I pray for you and your family every day. We want to thank you for your prayer and support. Your generosity is impacting lives around the world. A special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly gifts. If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. Remember, you can watch the services online live every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast watch on YouTube or the new Joel Osteen network 24 hours a day. Of course, listen live on Sirius XM as well. But until we meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you.

[Joel Osteen]

Be sure to request your copy of the 2026 devotional calendar available this month by simply visiting [e-mail] or calling 888-567 Joel. Also, no matter what season you're in, joy, sorrow, waiting, growth, God wants to speak into each and every moment. God's word for Every Season is a guided journal series designed to help you slow down, write out Scripture, and reflect on its truth one verse at a time. As you engage with His Word, you'll discover fresh strength, deeper peace, and timely encouragement for every step of your journey. You can request these inspiring resources by calling 888-567-JOEL or logging on to Joel Osteen.com today. Call or click anytime 24 hours a day. Request these resources today.

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[Joel Osteen (Teaching Segment)]

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