Joel Osteen - Your Reputation Is In God's Hands
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Joel Osteen teaches that when others slander, mischaracterize, or try to damage our reputation, we should not fight to defend ourselves but place our reputation in God's hands—guarding our hearts instead, trusting Him to vindicate us publicly while we stay focused on our purpose, as seen in stories of Jesus, Nehemiah, Joseph, and David.
A Good Name Is Valuable—But Not Ours to Guard
I want to talk to you today about Your Reputation Is In God's Hands. We all have a desire to have a good reputation—we know how important it is. Our reputation goes before us. It can open doors and cause the right people to come.
When Others Tarnish It
The Scripture says (Proverbs 22:1), "A good name is worth more than great wealth." But what happens when you are being your best—you are honoring God—but other people do things that tarnish your reputation, say things that are not true, take things out of context to try to make us look bad—slander, innuendos, rumors?
We were not there to defend ourselves. We could not tell our side of the story. Now they have done something that lessens our credibility—makes people have the wrong opinion of who we are.
Don’t Try to Fix It Yourself
It is tempting to try to straighten people out—prove to them that what they are saying is not correct. But if you get on that treadmill you will never get off, because there will always be someone saying something not true—mischaracterizing what you did, questioning your motives.
Put Your Reputation in God’s Hands
Here is the key: you have to put your reputation in God's hands. Let Him defend you. Let Him be your vindicator.
The Scripture never tells us to guard our reputation—it says guard your heart. If you are trying to guard your reputation, you are going to be worn out. That is not your job.
Leave your reputation in God's hands. He knows how to change people's minds. He knows how to silence negative voices. He knows how to cause you to be seen in the right light.
God Sees Everything
He hears everything said about you. He sees when people are mischaracterizing you—on purpose trying to make you look bad, questioning your motives. Nothing goes unnoticed.
Trying to Fix It Makes It Worse
The mistake we make is: we get into fight mode—"I have to fix this. This is not right"—but trying to fix it is only going to make it worse.
Once you fix this person, something else will come up—then another and another.
It takes all the pressure off when you put your reputation in God's hands.
Some People Won’t Understand You
We think, "Well, if I can just straighten them out—if I can let them know that I am not what they are saying, I am really a good person"—then this will fix it.
The problem is, some people do not want to understand you. If you did everything they asked—if you changed and became who they want you to be—they are still going to find fault.
You Don’t Need Them for Your Destiny
They are determined to misunderstand you. You have to accept that they are not going to be for you—and that is okay. You do not need them to fulfill your destiny.
Here is a bigger one: they do not have to be quiet for you to reach your potential. They may keep spreading lies, slandering, putting you in a bad light—but they cannot stop your purpose. They do not have that much power.
Don’t Waste Energy on Rumors
If you do not understand this principle, you will live upset—mad at them, thinking of the ways you can shut them down.
That is not your job. Your job is to guard your heart. Do not let the offense, the bitterness, the poison get in you.
God Will Make Negative Ineffective
You do your part, and God will do His part. He will take care of your reputation.
And sometimes He will stop the negative things from being said—turn things around and vindicate you. Other times He will let them keep talking, keep stirring things up—but no matter what they say it does not harm you. He makes them ineffective.
They are making all this noise—trying to discredit you. What they said, what they did, should have caused others at work to look down on you—should have kept you from that project—but God took away all the sting. He took away all the power.
Now they are just a bunch of irrelevant noise—nobody that matters pays any attention to them.
God’s Way: Promotion in Front of Enemies
That is why you have to let God do it His way. He may not stop what they are doing—He may not shut them up—He may cause you to shine in the face of what they are doing. Sometimes that is a bigger miracle.
All this negative chatter around you—people at school, at work, trying to make you look bad, saying things that are not true—but in spite of all that you keep excelling, you keep growing, you keep smiling, you keep being good to people, you keep seeing favor and promotion.
A Table in the Presence of Enemies
God knows how to take care of your reputation.
David said (Psalm 23:5), "God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies."
We think, "God, just get rid of my enemies—shut them up, change their mind, show them that they are wrong."
God says, "No, I have a better way: I am going to promote you while they are still talking. I am going to honor you while they are still making fun. I am going to lift you up while they are doing their best to push you down."
Stay on the High Road
You do not have to spend your energy trying to guard your reputation—spend your energy guarding your heart, not taking the bait.
When people are trying to make you look bad—saying things behind your back, little innuendos: "Well, he is not that smart—he just plays up to the boss. I heard she is running around with that guy"—you cannot stop that. You cannot make people do what is right.
Don’t Peck with Chickens
If you put out one rumor, there is going to be three more pop up.
Why are you wasting time and energy on something you cannot change? That is not your job—that is God's job.
Your reputation is in His hands.
He said in Psalm 105:15, "Touch not My anointed." You are His anointed.
He knows when someone is slandering you—mischaracterizing you on purpose, spreading rumors.
Stay on the high road, and at the right time God will vindicate you—He will defend your reputation.
No one can defend you like our God.
Don’t Sink to Their Level
But if we make the mistake of getting upset—trying to pay them back, straighten them out—then you are sinking down to their level.
You always go down to engage with a gossip—with the person that says things to demean other people.
You’re an Eagle—Soar!
Recognize who you are dealing with—that is not an eagle. That is not a person of integrity—someone that will believe the best, that will be happy if you succeed. That is a chicken.
You are not supposed to be down pecking—gossiping, finding fault, pulling people down. You are an eagle—you were created to soar.
Stay up on those high levels where you belong.
Don’t Let People Stir You Up
It is easy to be drawn into conflict—baited into strife. Some people's whole goal is to get you stirred up.
"Did you hear what so-and-so said about you? I cannot believe it—it is so wrong."
Best thing you can say is, "No, I did not hear it—and I do not want to hear it. My ears are not garbage cans to fill with a bunch of trash."
"Are you sure? They are saying things that are not true—you better do something about it."
"No, thanks—they do not control my reputation. It is in God's hands. I am confident that God will take care of it."
Keep Rumors Out of Your Spirit
Quit letting people stir you up—quit listening to all the rumors, false accusations, negative things people have said.
Keep that out of your spirit.
I am not saying to be naive and act like it is not happening—I am saying: do not give it the time of day.
People cannot stop your destiny.
Freedom in Trusting God
It is a test: are you going to get drawn into conflict—trying to defend yourself, prove that you are not what they are saying?
Or are you going to stay on the high road and let God fight your battles—let God defend you?
Yes, I know—negative things people say can be hurtful—but when you put your reputation in God's hands, there is a freedom.
Rest in God’s Defense
You can rest—you can stay in peace—knowing that God is your defender, knowing that He is in charge of your reputation.
Jesus Made Himself of No Reputation
The Scripture says (Philippians 2:7), "Jesus made Himself of no reputation."
He went around doing good—healing people, feeding the hungry, lifting the fallen, showing mercy to those that had made mistakes—yet people ridiculed Him. They slandered Him—said things that were not true.
His own brothers did not believe in Him. The religious leaders said, "He is from the devil—that is how He can heal people."
Jesus Didn’t Defend Himself
Jesus could not have been any more loving, kind, generous—but certain people were determined to misunderstand Him, mischaracterize Him, misjudge Him.
What did Jesus do? Spend all of His energy trying to straighten them out—convince them they were wrong, prove to them who He was?
No—He answered them not a word.
He did not waste His time trying to convince people to be for Him that were never going to be for Him.
A Feast in Front of Enemies
You would think with all that negative talk—with all the rumors, slander, lies—He would have missed His purpose.
But people do not control your destiny.
They can try to defame, denounce, mischaracterize—but your reputation is in God's hands.
If what they said could stop your purpose, they would be more powerful than God.
Take Your Seat at the Table
Do not make the mistake of engaging in battles that you are not supposed to engage in.
Do like Jesus: answer them not a word—do not pay any attention.
Since God is preparing a table in the presence of your enemies, that means there is a seat for you.
When these false accusations come—rumors, slander—the best thing you can do is take a seat. Stay in peace.
That is not the time to get defensive—pay them back: "Well, two can play at this game."
Just imagine: God is sending the angels to the grocery store—He has turned on the ovens. Gabriel is setting the table.
There is this big meal being prepared—not just a dinner, but a feast, a celebration.
Public Vindication
Now there is a seat for you—there is a place at this table where God is going to honor you in front of those that have talked.
He is going to show you favor in front of those that have made fun—promote you in front of those that tried to push you down.
God is not going to vindicate you in private—He is going to do it in public—so the very ones that treated you the worst—with contempt, with malice, on purpose mischaracterized—they will see you promoted, honored, in positions of influence and respect.
Don’t Miss the Dinner
Now for this to happen you have to be seated at the table.
If you are taking matters into your own hands—upset, thinking about what they said, trying to prove to them that you are wrong—then you are going to miss the dinner. You are going to miss the promotion that God has for you.
It is easy to get all riled up—bent out of shape.
Do not fall into that trap: your reputation is in God's hands.
There is nothing people can say—nothing they can do—that can keep you from your purpose.
For the Sake of His Reputation
There may be seasons of disrespect—where it looks like they are getting the upper hand—but your time is coming. The meal is being prepared.
You can trust the faithfulness of God.
It says in Psalm 109:21, "Deal with me, O Sovereign Lord, for the sake of Your own reputation."
Because you belong to the Sovereign Lord—because you are His child—He will deal with you because of His reputation.
It’s About Whose You Are
It is not just who you are—it is whose you are.
Now your part is to guard your heart—not get bitter, not get distracted in battles that do not matter.
God's part is to guard your reputation. He will make sure that you are seen in the right light.
Nehemiah and the Wall
God gave Nehemiah a dream to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He was living a thousand miles away—working as a cupbearer for the king.
He did not have the experience, the materials, the funds—but God gave him favor with the king, and this king gave him everything he needed.
Sanballat and Tobiah Stirred Trouble
But when two men—Sanballat and Tobiah—heard about Nehemiah's plan they did not like it.
They started stirring up trouble—spreading rumors, making false accusations.
I could imagine they went to the city officials trying to discredit him: "What is this man doing in our town? He is only in this for himself—just so he can become known."
They questioned his motives—cast doubt on his integrity.
It is no different today. Anytime you step out to do something great—you are being a great mother, pouring your heart and soul into raising those children—or you are excelling at school, going the extra mile at work, seeing your gifts come out in great ways—do not be surprised if someone is going to find fault, question your motives, say things that are not true.
Trouble Means You’re Making a Difference
"He just thinks he is better than us. She is not that talented. She manipulated people to get that position. I heard he cheated all through college—he did not go to class."
The fact is: if you were sitting around being mediocre, no one would care.
The fact that people are trying to discredit you—trying to make you look bad—that is a sign that you are doing something right. You are making a difference. You are leaving your mark.
Stay on the Wall
While Nehemiah was up on the hill with his men rebuilding the wall, Sanballat and Tobiah were at the bottom of the hill hurling insults.
Verse 2 said, "They shouted, 'What does this poor, feeble man think he is doing?' Sanballat said, 'If a fox walked on that wall it would fall down.'"
I am sure Nehemiah was tempted to put his tools down—walk down the hill and tell them what he thought.
He had his speech ready: "Listen here, losers—you do not know who I am. You are just a bunch of troublemakers—spreading lies, trying to stop a good cause. Besides, why would your mother name you Sanballat? That is ridiculous."
He felt like giving them a piece of his mind—trying to straighten them out—then he came back to his senses and thought, "No, I am not going to waste my time trying to convince them to be for me. They do not want to be for me. They do not want to understand me. They are determined to misunderstand me."
Some Won’t Celebrate Your Favor
Some people are so small-minded—so insecure—they will never celebrate the favor on your life.
That jealous spirit will cause them to find fault—criticize.
Just stay on the wall.
Nehemiah ignored them—kept working.
Every day he could hear their insults—every day he could hear their slander.
God Didn’t Stop It—Nehemiah Tuned It Out
It is interesting that God did not stop it. Nehemiah had to on purpose tune it out and keep focused on what he was called to do.
52 days later—in record time—he rebuilt the wall.
Nehemiah was honored and esteemed as one who helped save the Israelites.
Sanballat and Tobiah did their best to ruin his reputation—but when you put your reputation in God's hands, nothing can stop it.
Today Nehemiah is one of the heroes of faith.
No One Can Stand Against God
No matter how hard someone tries—they may have more influence, more seniority, more followers—do not worry. They cannot stand against our God.
You keep doing the right thing—you keep striving for excellence, following that dream in your heart—and God will take care of the Sanballats and Tobiahs.
Their negative chatter—their insults—they may be hurtful, but they cannot stop your purpose.
Don’t Come Down Off the Wall
You may be in a situation now where people are coming against you—saying things that are not true. You are tempted to get all riled up—straighten them out.
No—do not come down off the wall.
Do not let them bait you into conflict—they are a distraction.
The Sanballats, the Tobiahs—they are trying to lure you out of your purpose so you will waste time on things that do not matter.
Stay on the wall. Their disrespect cannot stop you unless you come down.
Their lies, slander, innuendo is nothing but noise—it is nothing but negative chatter.
Vindication Is Coming
Here is the thing: God hears it.
When you stay on the high road, He is preparing the dinner—He is setting the table.
There will be a time when the noise has stopped—and you are being promoted, you are being honored.
"Well, Joel—they are damaging my reputation. They are saying things that make people believe less of me."
That is only temporary. The truth will come out.
More Respect Than Before
God is in control of your reputation.
As long as you are honoring Him, at the right time vindication is coming.
You will come out of it not with less respect—but with more respect than if they had not tried to hold you down.
What was meant for your harm God will turn to your advantage.
A Friend’s Story of Disrespect
A couple of years after my father went to be with the Lord, I met this minister when I was in another city—and we became friends.
He started coming to our Nights of Hope when we traveled to different cities each month.
I never asked him to—he just volunteered and came to support us.
We had certain consultants helping us run the events at that time—and some of them did not like him showing up so much.
They wondered: who is this new guy? Why is he always here?
When they found out he was a friend of mine—and I wanted him to come back—they were jealous. They started putting him in a negative light.
Rumors Questioned His Motives
I would hear the rumors: "He is opportunistic. He is just here for himself. He is trying to take advantage"—questioning his motives, trying to discredit him.
I knew him well. His heart was pure—he has great character, a person of integrity.
You can have the best intentions—the purest motives—but there will always be people that try to cast doubt, that on purpose mischaracterize, misjudge.
They may not be bad people—sometimes they are just jealous. They do not want to see you succeed. They do not want to let someone new in.
Guard Your Heart—God Guards Reputation
This is when it is tempting to get offended—get baited into conflict, live discouraged.
You have to stay on the wall. Leave it alone—trust God to fight your battles.
One event I knew my friend was coming—but he was late.
He was going to start in a few minutes—and I texted him, asked, "Where are you?"
He said that he had been delayed.
What he did not tell me is these people would not let him in the event—so he was in line to buy a ticket.
He Outlasted the Opposition
He was very hurt by it—and for a few months he quit coming.
He thought, "If they treat me this way—they put me down, discredit me—when in fact I am trying to be a source of good—then I do not need it. I will just stay where I am appreciated."
Here is the principle again: you do not have to guard your reputation—but you do have to guard your heart.
God is going to take care of your reputation—the question is: are you going to take care of your heart?
It is easy to get offended—bitter, live upset.
My friend was tempted to come down off the wall—let what was said keep him from doing what he knew God called him to do.
God Lifted Him Up
He changed his mind—he started coming back again and again—month after month—ignoring the insults, dismissing the disrespect, not paying attention to the rumors.
God started fighting his battles. God began to bring vindication.
The more they pushed him down—the more God lifted him up.
They did not believe in him—but I believed in him.
I did not know all that was going on—but God will always have the right people that will be for you.
The Right People Will Find You
The ones that matter will see the best in you—they will want to stand up for you, help you move into your purpose.
You do not have to find them—they will find you.
You do not have to convince them to be for you—they will want to be for you.
What is interesting is all those that were against him are no longer with us—but he is still here.
He outlasted them all.
Now when they want to come to the event—he makes them buy a ticket.
Endure Seasons of Disrespect
There may be seasons where you have to endure disrespect—being put down, seen in a bad light.
The Sanballats and Tobiahs may keep hurling their insults—stirring up trouble—but that is not how your story ends.
Just stay on the wall—keep doing the right thing, keep fulfilling your purpose.
There will be a time like with my friend when the opposition is gone—the slanderers are silenced, the haters are humiliated.
Triumph Over Haters
God knows how to defend your reputation.
He knows how to promote you in the presence of your enemies.
Despite what was said—despite what was done—you are going to shine. You are going to excel. You are going to step into levels that you never dreamed.
The Psalmist said, "I will look in triumph on those that have hated me—their humiliation will be obvious to all."
Joseph: From Pit to Palace
This is what happened with Joseph.
As a teenager God gave him a dream that he was going to do something great—he was going to lead a nation.
But his brothers were jealous—and they threw him into a pit.
They were going to leave him there to die—but they saw this caravan of Ishmaelites coming by. Instead they sold him as a slave.
Betrayed by Family
It is interesting that it was not someone on the outside that tried to keep Joseph from his purpose—it was his family.
Sometimes the people closest to you will not believe in you—not treat you with respect, say things that are hurtful.
It is tempting to come off the wall—live offended, bitter, defensive.
You have to give it to God. Leave it in His hands.
You cannot dwell on what they said—or on what they did. Sometimes they do not even know they are doing it—it is just how they were raised, it is just what they saw modeled growing up.
Joseph Stayed on the Wall
Joseph was working for a high-ranking military official in Egypt—running his household.
He never complained—did not slack off. He just kept being his best—staying on the wall.
The man's wife falsely accused Joseph—said he was trying to harm her.
This man was furious—had Joseph thrown into prison.
From Slave to Prisoner
If you were to judge Joseph at that point, you would think he has no reputation—no chance. He is a slave—in prison, disowned by his family.
Joseph could have been bitter—angry, thinking about what his brothers did: "How could this lady lie about me? That was not right."
Instead he stayed on the wall.
He trusted God to be his vindicator.
He kept doing the right thing when it was hard—when he was misunderstood, when he was mischaracterized.
Overnight Vindication
One night the Pharaoh—the leader of the country—had a dream that he did not understand.
They called for Joseph—he interpreted the dream.
The Pharaoh was so impressed—he made Joseph second in command of all of Egypt.
Overnight he went from the prison to being prime minister—one of the most powerful people of that day.
Now he was greatly respected—honored, influential. People bowed down low before him.
From Prison to Palace
God knows how to vindicate you.
He knows how to restore your reputation.
It may seem like people have done things that have permanently set you back—your motives were right, your heart was pure—but things happen that put you in a bad light.
Like with Joseph—you are in that season of disrespect, loss of credibility, people discrediting you.
Your time is coming.
God sees you doing the right thing.
He sees you being a Joseph: not complaining, not holding a grudge, not giving up on life.
Suddenly Promotion Comes
The Pharaoh is going to call you in—the right people are going to show up. Vindication is coming.
It is going to happen quickly.
It is not going to be years to restore what was lost—Joseph went from a prisoner to a prince overnight.
Suddenly you are going to see vindication—restoration, promotion, influence, and honor—in Jesus' name.
Brothers Bowed Before Him
13 years after they threw him into that pit—his brothers, the same ones—came to the palace in Egypt looking for food. There was a great famine.
Well, Joseph was in charge of the food supply.
They thought he was dead.
When they realized it was Joseph—they all bowed down low before him.
That was the table in the presence of his enemies.
The very ones that tried to hold you down are going to see you promoted.
Stay on the Wall—God Will Vindicate
Do not live stressed out trying to guard your reputation—guard your heart.
Make the decision to not live offended—upset, trying to pay people back—and God will take care of your reputation.
He has heard every negative comment that was said about you—the insults, the disrespect, the betrayals.
He is going to make it up to you.
Keep Dreaming and Excelling
And you do your part: stay on the wall—keep doing great things, keep being a person of excellence, keep stretching, keep dreaming.
The naysayers cannot stop your purpose—the negative chatter is just noise trying to get you distracted.
Do not take the bait.
Stay focused and leave your reputation in God's hands.
If you will do this, I believe and declare: like Joseph, you are going to see vindication, promotion.
Negative situations are about to turn around—forces that have stopped you are being broken right now.
You are about to see the table in the presence of your enemies—from the prison to the palace, in Jesus' name.
And if you receive it, can you say amen today? Amen.