Episode Summary: "Yes Is In Your Future" | Joel Osteen Podcast

Date: January 15, 2026
Host: Joel Osteen

Overview

In this uplifting episode, Joel Osteen focuses on the central message that, despite life's rejections and closed doors, "yes" is always in your future if you persist in faith. Osteen encourages listeners to endure disappointments and setbacks, viewing each "no" as a step closer to their eventual "yes," in alignment with God’s plan. Through personal stories, biblical examples, and motivational anecdotes, he illustrates how persistence, positive expectation, and unwavering faith are key to realizing your dreams.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. God's Plan Includes Yeses (03:00)

• Joel sets the tone by affirming that God has already lined up "the right people, the right breaks, the right open doors" for everyone's future.
• Key idea: Yeses are planned by God—promotions, restored health, relationships, acceptance, and personal victories await.
• Every "no" is a step closer to a "yes": facing rejection is part of the path, not the end.

Quote:

"You have to go through the noes to get to your yeses. The mistake many people make is they get discouraged by the no's and they quit trying."
— Joel Osteen (04:40)

2. How to Persevere Through Closed Doors (06:00)

• Osteen uses the metaphor of keeping count of rejections: if you knew your yes was just 20 no’s away, every no would energize you.
• The “noes” are framed as tests—will you settle, or will you keep moving forward?

3. Real-Life Stories of Persistence

• Passed Over for Promotion (08:15):
  A man, initially overlooked for a supervisor role, remains faithful, and later receives a bigger promotion when the vice president retires.
• Starting a Business Against Rejection (12:00):
  A friend's banking journey—turned down by 31 banks before the 32nd says yes, allowing him to realize his business dream.
• Actress Janine Turner’s 1,000 Rejections (17:10):
  Despite 12 years of audition failures and over a thousand "no’s," her persistence brings a breakthrough with a lead role on "Northern Exposure."

Quote:

"She kept pursuing what God placed in her heart. And one day... the main producer from a major network called."
— Joel Osteen (17:56)

4. Persistence: Choosing Not to Quit

• The power of reframing every rejection as a step closer to success is emphasized through stories about business, career, and personal challenges.
• Joel references Zig Ziglar's persistence in finding a hotel room despite multiple refusals (15:30).
• The barracuda and the glass partition (22:40): a metaphor for how persistent “no’s” can condition us to stop trying—even when the obstacle is gone.

Quote:

"How do you know that God has not removed the glass partition that was holding you back?... You'll never know, unless you keep trying."
— Joel Osteen (23:30)

5. Biblical Examples of Seeking Your Yes (24:40)

• Elijah and the Abundance of Rain:
  Elijah sends his servant seven times to look for rain, and only on the seventh does a small cloud appear, signaling the coming breakthrough.
• Thomas Edison’s 2,000 Failures:
  Edison reframes his failed attempts as discovering 2,000 ways that didn’t work, teaching listeners not to see setbacks as wasted effort but preparation.

Quote:

"'I never failed once. I just found 2,000 ways that wouldn't work.'"
— Joel Osteen quoting Thomas Edison (25:50)

6. Dreams Bigger Than Others Can See (28:00)

• Osteen recounts his mother's unyielding desire for a family swimming pool, ignoring repeated “no’s”—eventually, a pool is gifted to them, just as she believed.
• Message: Even those close to us may try to limit our dreams; it’s up to us to hold fast to faith in God's favor and plan.

Quote:

"There are yeses in your future that you won’t have to pay for… It’s simply the favor of God yeses chasing you down."
— Joel Osteen (29:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |------------|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:40 | Joel Osteen | "You have to go through the noes to get to your yeses..." | | 13:43 | Joel Osteen | "When God puts a dream in your heart...every no simply means you’re one step closer to your yes." | | 17:56 | Joel Osteen | "She kept pursuing what God placed in her heart..." | | 23:30 | Joel Osteen | "How do you know that God has not removed the glass partition that was holding you back?" | | 25:50 | Joel Osteen | "'I never failed once. I just found 2,000 ways that wouldn't work.'" (quoting Edison) | | 29:07 | Joel Osteen | "There are yeses in your future that you won’t have to pay for… It’s simply the favor of God..." | | 31:25 | Joel Osteen | "Yeses are coming your way in Jesus name. If you receive it, give the Lord a shout of praise today."|

Timeline of Key Segments

• 03:00 – 06:45: Introduction to the theme—God’s planned “yeses,” pushing through disappointment.
• 08:15 – 12:00: Story: Being passed over for promotion, yet seeing a future yes.
• 12:00 – 15:40: Starting a business; illustration of 31 rejections before getting the "yes."
• 15:45 – 17:56: Zig Ziglar’s hotel story; persistence in practice.
• 17:10 – 20:30: Actress Janine Turner’s 12-year journey to success.
• 21:00 – 24:30: The barracuda’s learned helplessness—don’t let past failures become permanent beliefs.
• 24:40 – 26:50: Elijah’s faith amid drought; Edison’s attitude toward failure.
• 28:00 – 29:07: Family swimming pool tale—sometimes even those closest won’t see your destiny.
• 31:00 – 31:25: Final encouragement: your yes is coming if you persist with faith.

Takeaway Messages

• Every setback, every closed door, is a step closer to your breakthrough “yes.”
• Persistence and faith are crucial; don’t be deterred by repeated rejections.
• God’s promises are “yes and amen”—expect His favor daily.
• Sometimes your biggest “yes” comes after the most “no’s”; refuse to let past rejection shape your expectations.
• Surround yourself with expectation and positivity, regardless of others’ disbelief.

Closing Encouragement

Joel urges listeners to expect yeses each day, move forward with faith, and not allow setbacks or others’ limitations to halt their dreams. Favor, healing, promotion, and breakthrough are declared to be in listeners’ futures.

"Keep looking for your yes. If you'll go out each day expecting yeses to come your way... you're going to come into the abundance of what God has in store."
— Joel Osteen (31:10)