Overview of Can You Handle The Blessing? | Joel Osteen
In this message, Joel Osteen teaches that blessing and persecution often come together. Using examples from Jesus, Isaac, Lazarus, and David, he encourages listeners to stop taking opposition personally, ignore critics, and trust God to defend them. The central idea is that if you can handle jealousy, misunderstanding, and criticism with grace, God can trust you with greater influence, favor, and breakthrough.
Main Message
Joel’s core point is simple: the blessing itself is not the hard part — handling the backlash that comes with it is.
He explains that when God elevates someone, not everyone will celebrate it. Success can trigger jealousy, criticism, and resistance from people who are small-minded or uncomfortable with growth. Instead of getting offended or defensive, believers are urged to stay focused, keep their heart pure, and let God handle the opposition.
Key Themes and Teachings
Blessing often attracts persecution
- Joel says that Scripture shows a pattern: greater favor often brings greater opposition.
- He references Jesus’ teaching in Mark 10 about receiving a hundredfold return “with persecutions.”
- The blessing is real, but so is the test that comes with it.
Don’t take criticism personally
- Opposition is often about the favor on your life, not about your worth.
- People may turn on you when you rise higher, not because you changed for the worse, but because your growth exposes their insecurity.
- The sermon repeatedly emphasizes: don’t let critics shape your identity.
Stay on the high road
- Joel encourages listeners not to retaliate, argue, or live bitter.
- He says the best response to criticism is often silence, patience, and continuing to do good.
- Like Jesus, you don’t need to answer every accusation.
Celebrate others without jealousy
- He warns that if you can’t celebrate someone else’s promotion, success, or blessing, it can limit your own growth.
- A “small-minded mentality” sees someone else’s increase as a threat.
- God’s favor is not limited — what He does for one person, He can do for another.
Biblical Examples Used
Isaac in Genesis 26
- Isaac sowed during a famine and received a hundredfold harvest.
- Soon after, the Philistines became jealous and tried to stop his progress by clogging his wells.
- Joel uses Isaac to show that abundance can quickly attract resistance.
- Isaac did not fight back; he moved on and kept trusting God.
Lazarus
- After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, religious leaders became jealous.
- Even a miracle can provoke opposition when people are threatened by God’s work.
- The takeaway: being blessed does not guarantee being accepted.
David and Saul
- David’s rising popularity made Saul jealous.
- Saul threw spears at him, but David kept dodging them and remained faithful.
- Joel uses this as a picture of how to handle attacks: don’t throw the spear back — keep moving forward.
Practical Takeaways
1. Expect resistance when you grow
- If you are being promoted, noticed, or blessed, some people may not understand it.
- Don’t be shocked by jealousy; recognize it as part of the package.
2. Don’t live in reaction mode
- You don’t have to explain yourself to everyone.
- Don’t spend your energy trying to win over people who are committed to misunderstanding you.
3. Focus on your assignment
- Your purpose is too important to be distracted by negativity.
- Keep building, serving, and trusting God instead of dwelling on who is against you.
4. Let God fight your battles
- Joel repeatedly says that God sees the injustice and will handle it in His timing.
- Your job is to keep your heart right and stay faithful.
5. Be prepared for the next level
- The sermon ends with the idea that if you can handle the blessing without becoming bitter, defensive, or prideful, God can entrust you with even more.
Closing Emphasis
Joel closes with an encouraging declaration that listeners are already graced to handle what comes with success, influence, and favor. He prays for a new level of blessing, resources, creativity, and momentum, and invites listeners to receive Jesus as Lord.
The message ends with the familiar Joel Osteen theme: keep your heart pure, ignore the critics, trust God, and expect greater blessing ahead.