Overview of It Has To Go Back | Joel Osteen
Joel Osteen delivers a faith-centered message reminding listeners that problems, sicknesses, addictions, and setbacks are temporary — “they have to go back.” Using biblical imagery (sand holding back the ocean) and multiple Scripture references, he encourages believers to speak God’s promises daily, declare victory over circumstances, and activate “mustard seed” faith so God’s eternal decree prevails in their lives.
Key points and takeaways
- Trouble will come, but it will not prosper — it’s temporary. “It has to go back.”
- God placed an “everlasting ordinance” (the Word) in small things (a grain of sand, a mustard seed) that can hold back or move what appears overwhelmingly large.
- Speaking and confessing Scripture aloud is crucial — Jesus answered temptation with “It is written”; repetition of God’s promises plants and grows faith.
- The enemy’s tactics are loud accusations and roaring thoughts; respond by roaring back with God’s Word.
- Small faith exercised consistently (mustard-seed faith) can move mountains and produce breakthroughs.
Biblical and scriptural anchors
- Isaiah: “No weapon formed against you will prosper” — troubles may form but will not be permanent.
- Jeremiah 5 (image used): God set a boundary for the sea — the sand contains the ocean because of God’s decree.
- Mark 4: God’s Word is like a seed that grows when sown in the heart.
- Jesus in the wilderness: used Scripture to defeat temptation (“It is written”).
- Mustard seed illustration: small faith can produce large results.
- Additional scriptural themes referenced: “I will live and not die,” “I can do all things through Christ,” “give no place to the enemy.”
Illustrative stories and examples
- Young woman with generational infertility: she began declaring Scripture about motherhood, and later had children.
- Joel after his father’s passing: faced fear and insecurity stepping into pastoral leadership; he countered negative thoughts by declaring promises and saw long-term fruit.
- Joel’s mother: diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in 1981, she repeatedly declared healing scriptures; over time she recovered and grew stronger.
- Woman with long-term depression: reading and declaring promises from Osteen’s book “I Declare” restored her hope, joy, and ability to parent.
Practical steps / action items
- Identify scripture promises related to your struggle (healing, provision, freedom, favor) and memorize them.
- Speak those promises aloud daily — declare them in response to negative thoughts.
- Replace ownership language (“my depression,” “my sickness”) with temporary phrasing (“this is what I’m dealing with now — it has to go back”).
- Pray specifically and persistently; thank God as if the promise is already being fulfilled.
- Use small acts of faith consistently (the mustard seed principle) rather than waiting for large feelings or circumstances to change.
- Get involved in a Bible-based church and community for ongoing spiritual support.
Resources & offers mentioned
- Free/thank-you resources for donors: Double For Your Trouble (31-day guide), God’s Got You Restoration Duo, Double Portion Restoration Bible Collection (CSB Thinline Bible + books).
- How to request: joelostein.com or call 888-567-JOEL.
- Invitation to Lakewood Church Homecoming Weekend.
(Transcript also contains commercial ads for Whole Foods Market, The UPS Store, Mitsubishi, Morgan Stewart’s podcast, and ASU Online.)
Notable quotes & lines to remember
- “It has to go back.”
- “God put His word in every grain of sand.”
- “When you have God’s promises coming out of your mouth, you can’t be defeated.”
- “The enemy is all bark and no bite.”
- “If you have faith the size of a grain of mustard seed…nothing will be impossible to you.”
Final encouragement
Joel’s central promise: circumstances may roar, but God’s Word in you is the eternal decree that causes those waves to recede. Apply Scripture daily, speak God’s promises over your life, and expect receding storms — healing, freedom, provision, and breakthrough. For practical help, consider the resources offered (joelostein.com / 888-567-JOEL) and connect with a local, Bible-based community.