Overview of Being Confident In What You Have | Joel Osteen
Joel Osteen’s message—recorded for his SiriusXM podcast—encourages listeners to stop focusing on lack and start acting confidently with the gifts, resources, and faith they already possess. Central thesis: God multiplies the small and ordinary when you give Him what you have, act in faith (even small faith), and refuse to live from a deficit mindset. The talk mixes biblical stories, contemporary anecdotes, personal testimony, and practical exhortation.
Key points & main takeaways
- Don’t define yourself by what you lack. Your limitations don’t stop God from using you.
- God’s anointing and favor—not raw talent, education, or resources—produce extraordinary results.
- Give God what you have. Small resources, offered in faith, can be multiplied (5 loaves & 2 fish).
- Take action. Even small acts of faith (mustard-seed faith) invite God to move.
- Stop comparing yourself to others; you’re anointed to be you, not someone else.
- God can change how people perceive you—“He causes you to be seen” (favor/visibility).
- Confidence and posture matter: act like you’re equipped and empowered even if you don’t feel it.
- When weak, rely on God—He becomes what you need (provision, protection, promotion, healing).
Illustrative stories & scripture references
- Biblical examples:
- Samson and the jawbone of a donkey — ordinary tool becomes victorious weapon.
- David and Goliath — slingshot and five stones defeat the giant.
- Jesus feeding the multitude — five loaves and two fish multiplied.
- Four lepers at the city gate (2 Kings 7) — timid action leads to miraculous deliverance and spoils.
- Moses’ rod turned to a snake and back (Exodus) — ordinary object used supernaturally.
- Mustard-seed faith — small faith can move mountains.
- Zechariah 4:6 paraphrase: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.”
- Contemporary/symbolic stories:
- WWII soldier saved because a spider’s web hid his cave—God uses small things to protect.
- Police officer finds 10,000 children’s books in a warehouse and distributes them—God multiplies resources.
- Joel’s personal testimony stepping into pastorship after his father’s death (1999) despite initial feelings of inadequacy.
- TV-equipment salesman unexpectedly offering a large discount—God arranging favor.
Practical applications / Action steps
- Identify what you have right now (talent, resources, relationships, skills).
- Offer it to God—don’t wait for more.
- Take one tangible step of faith today (e.g., apply for a role, volunteer, give, start a project).
- Speak declarations: affirmations Joel uses include “This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have.”
- Change posture: walk, speak, and present yourself with confidence (don’t broadcast feelings of inadequacy).
- Stop comparing; focus on your assigned path and calling.
- If you made a decision to follow Jesus during the message, Joel invites a simple prayer of repentance and commitment to Christ.
- Join a Bible-based church and stay consistent in faith and community support.
Notable quotes & memorable lines
- “You don’t need a lot of talent. You have exactly what you need.”
- “Give me what you have.”
- “God is not looking for super talented people. He’s looking for ordinary people who will take the limits off of Him.”
- “Your slingshot with God’s anointing is more powerful than a machine gun with no anointing.”
- “It’s not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit.”
- “God can cause you to be seen the way He wants you to be seen.”
Resources, offers & calls-to-action mentioned
- Salvation invitation: a short prayer to receive Jesus; new believers encouraged to join a Bible-based church.
- Book offers and ministry resources:
- Joel’s book Rediscovering the Forgotten You (helps reclaim passion, confidence, purpose).
- Rediscovery Duo: Rediscovering the Forgotten You + God’s Got You: Promises for Overcoming Fear.
- CSB Thinline Study Bible (Camel Suede Soft Leather Touch).
- Request via joelostein.com or call 888-567-JOEL.
- Sponsors noted in the episode: Angie (homeowner services) and GoToBank (overdraft protection advertisement).
Who will benefit from this episode
- People feeling discouraged, underqualified, or stuck.
- Listeners struggling with comparison, lack of confidence, or small faith.
- Christians seeking practical, faith-based encouragement to act on their gifts and opportunities.
- Anyone open to a faith perspective on turning limited resources into multiplied outcomes.
Final summary
Joel Osteen’s sermon is a confidence-building call to action: stop rehearsing your deficiencies, use what you have, move forward in faith, and let God multiply the ordinary into the extraordinary. The practical emphasis is on immediate, posture-driven faith—small steps, declarations, and trust—backed by biblical examples and contemporary testimonies.