Joel Osteen - Believing Without A Sign (07/17/2022)
Joel Osteen shares that while it’s easy to believe when we see signs of God’s favor, true faith shines in seasons with no evidence—when circumstances show no improvement—and encourages us to trust God’s promises without needing proof, using stories like Hezekiah, Elijah, and personal examples to show that breakthroughs often come suddenly after persistent faith without signs.
When Faith Feels Easy
I want to talk to you today about Believing Without a Sign. We all have goals and dreams and promises we are standing on. When we see God’s favor—doors opening, our health improving, the right people showing up—it is easy to believe. We know God is at work.
The Test of No Evidence
But sometimes we are doing our best, praying, believing, but nothing is happening. The medical report is not getting better. Doors are not opening. Our finances are not improving. There is no sign that it is going to happen. It is easy to get discouraged and give up on what we are believing for.
But the Scripture says (Hebrews 11:1), «Faith is the evidence of things not seen.» If you can see it, it does not take any faith.
Faith Beyond What You See
If you have the evidence it is easy to stay encouraged, but to reach your destiny there will be these times when there is no evidence. Every circumstance says, «You will never get well. Never meet the right person. Never accomplish that dream. You are no better off now than you were a year ago.»
God Is Working Unseen
We think, «God, if You just give me a sign, You just let me know that You are working. If I just see something improving.» Well, this is when you have to dig down deep and say, «I do not have to have the evidence. I am not moved by what I see. I am moved by what I know. And God, I know You are faithful to what You promised.»
Just because you do not see a sign does not mean God is not working. Do not believe those lies that nothing is happening. In the unseen realm God is arranging things in your favor, lining up the healing, the right people, the promotion.
A Sign God Trusts You
And the fact that you cannot see anything happening—that is God showing you that He trusts you. You do not have to see everything to keep moving forward. You have matured to the point where you walk by faith and not by sight.
Where God is taking you—the amazing future He has planned—is going to require you to believe without a sign, to trust Him when there is no evidence.
Don’t Limit Your Destiny
If you have to see everything to stay encouraged—see it to keep believing—it will limit how high you will go. You have to pass this test of staying in faith when nothing is improving, thanking God when all the circumstances say, «It is never going to change.»
And you may be there now. You have been praying and believing, but it does not seem like it is doing any good. You do not see any evidence. It kind of feels like God is on vacation. He does not even hear your prayers.
Silence Isn’t Abandonment
The silence does not mean God has forgotten about you. He sees your faithfulness. He sees you doing the right thing when it is hard. When you could have given up you went the extra mile and kept believing. You felt like complaining, but you kept praising.
When every thought said it was never going to happen, you kept thanking God that He was working.
Your Time Is Coming!
Let me encourage you: your time is coming. What God promised is on the way. Do not get talked out of it. Do not let people, delays, doubts convince you to give up. Your breakthrough is already on the schedule. Your miracle has already been set in motion.
It seems like nothing is happening, but suddenly it is going to change. Suddenly the dream comes to pass. Suddenly the right person shows up.
Blessed for Believing Unseen
Jesus told Thomas (John 20:29), «Because you have seen Me, you have believed. But blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe.»
You have not seen it, but you keep believing—God says there is a blessing coming. Because you believe without the evidence, believe without the sign, favor is coming, healing is coming, victory is coming.
Don’t Be a Thomas
And do not be a Thomas: «God, show me a sign, then I will believe. Let my circumstances improve, then I will stay in faith. Open this door, then I will know You are working.»
God is looking for people who believe without a sign, who are not moved by what they do not see, who do not need the evidence to prove to them that God is working.
Hezekiah’s Death Sentence Reversed
In 2 Kings chapter 20 King Hezekiah became very sick. He was close to death when the prophet Isaiah showed up at the palace. I am sure he was hoping for some good news—maybe Isaiah would come and prophesy that things were about to turn around, that he was about to get well.
But it was not what he was thinking. Isaiah said, «King Hezekiah, I have a word from the Lord for you. God says, 'Set your house in order for you will surely die.'»
A Promise That Needed Proof
He did not say, «Maybe you will pass. There is a chance you are not going to make it. It is not looking too good, King.» There was no doubt: «This is the end. You will not recover from this illness.»
Hezekiah could have been depressed, defeated, given up on life. But he began to pray. He reminded God of all the good he had done—how he had torn down the pagan shrines and removed all the idols. He poured his heart out and asked God in His mercy to spare his life.
Before Isaiah left the palace grounds God changed His mind and told Isaiah to go back and give him this new report. He said, «Tell Hezekiah this: Hezekiah, the Lord says He has heard your prayers, and He is going to heal you. In three days you will get out of this bed, and He will add 15 more years to your life.»
When Doubt Demands a Sign
Now you can imagine how excited and how overwhelmed Hezekiah was. He just received this amazing promise that this death sentence had been reversed.
But Hezekiah was kind of like us. After the excitement wore off he started thinking, «How do I know I am going to get well? I do not look any different. I do not feel any better. Nothing has changed.»
The Shadow Went Backwards
Doubt started to come: «Is it really going to happen? Are You sure that is what God said?»
Hezekiah said to Isaiah, «What sign will the Lord give me to prove that I am going to get well?» He was saying, «Isaiah, I appreciate what you have told me. That is encouraging, but I need some evidence. I need to see something so I will believe. I need God to prove that He is going to do it.»
Isaiah said, «All right, God will give you a sign. Do you want the shadow on the sundial to go 10 degrees forward or 10 degrees backwards?» Hezekiah said, «Backwards.» They watched as the shadow defied the odds and went backwards.
God Is Merciful, But…
And God is merciful. Sometimes He will give you a sign. But here is my point: if you live by this approach—"God, prove that You are going to do what You said. God, I need some evidence. If I do not see something, I am not going to believe"—if you are always dependent on a sign, you will not reach the fullness of your destiny.
You’ve Already Seen His Faithfulness
Maybe like Hezekiah you are praying for a sign, but you are not seeing anything—the sundial is not going backwards.
The right attitude is, «God, I do not have to have a sign. You do not have to prove to me that You are going to do it. You have already proved to me who You are. You have already made ways where I did not see a way. You have already opened doors that I could never open. You have already defeated giants that were much bigger. You have already broken chains that I could never break. God, I trust You with no evidence.»
Prove to God Who You Are
I am not a Thomas—I do not have to see it to believe it. I am not a Hezekiah—You do not have to prove to me that You are faithful. You have already shown Yourself faithful.
And yes, it is great when God gives you a sign, but do not rely on a sign. Do not become dependent on seeing then you will believe. That does not take much faith.
Look Back at God’s Goodness
Your faith kicks in when there is no evidence. Instead of asking God to prove to you what He is going to do, why do you not turn it around and prove to God who you are? Prove to Him that you are not going to be moved by what you see. Prove that you are not going to give up because things are not changing. Prove that you are going to stand in faith when every circumstance says, «It is never going to happen.»
What is interesting is right before Hezekiah got sick he had just seen the greatest victory of his life. The Assyrian army was coming against him and the people of Judah—they were much bigger, had more resources.
Remember Past Victories
The night before the Assyrians were going to attack the angel of the Lord went into their camp and killed a hundred and eighty-five thousand of their soldiers. The others took off running. The people of Judah and Hezekiah were spared.
You would think Hezekiah would not need a sign—he just saw a supernatural victory. He just saw God show out.
Don’t Forget What He’s Done
But how many times do we forget what God has done? Like Hezekiah, God has shown up and turned things around for us—He has healed us, protected us, freed us, promoted us.
If you need a sign, look back at the goodness of God in your life. Look back at how He brought you through the pandemic, how He gave you strength when you did not think you could go on, how He promoted you when you were not next in line.
Look back at how He has turned your child around, how He brought someone great into your life to love, and how that one good break caused your business to take off. When you need evidence, look back at the faithfulness of God.
Elijah Heard Abundance of Rain
This is what Elijah did. There was a great famine in the land, and for three and a half years it had not rained: no water, no crops. People were barely surviving.
When nothing looked any different—in the middle of this drought—Elijah showed up and said (1 Kings 18:41), «I hear the sound of the abundance of rain.»
Don’t Override What You Heard
He was so bold he went and told King Ahab, «This drought is coming to an end. Rain is on the way.»
When he said that there was not a cloud in the sky—no sign of rain. God will put things in your spirit that contradict what you see.
He heard an abundance of rain—he saw barren ground, crops dried up, drought, famine.
The key is do not let what you see override what you have heard. If you are always looking for a sign, you are going to get discouraged.
Be an Elijah, Not a Hezekiah
«I heard rain, but I see drought. I heard healing, but I see sickness. I heard abundance, but I see lack. I heard freedom, but all I see is addictions, depression, dysfunction. When I see something different then I will believe. When I have some evidence then I will get my hopes up.»
No, do not be a Hezekiah—be an Elijah. You do not have to have a sign. God does not have to prove to you that He is going to do what He has promised. You have seen His faithfulness. You have a history with God.
Believe Without a Sign
He has made things happen all through your life that you could have never made happen. Now do your part and believe without a sign. Stay in faith where there is no evidence.
Do not let what you see talk you out of what you have heard. It is very powerful when you can say, «I do not see any sign of what I am believing for, but that is okay. I do not need a sign. I know God is on the throne. I know He is in control. I know what He started He will finish.»
Seven Times of Clear Skies
Elijah went to the top of Mount Carmel and he began to pray. He bowed down and began to thank God that rain was coming, that what he heard in his spirit was on the way.
He asked his assistant to go look on the other side of the mountain—see if there was any sign of rain. He was not dependent on a sign. He was looking for God’s goodness. He was expecting rain.
Expect God’s Goodness
That is different than «I am not going to believe unless I have a sign.» His attitude was, «I know God is at work. It could happen any moment. I know rain is coming.» He had this confidence, this unshakable faith.
The assistant came back and said, «Sorry, Elijah, there are no clouds. The skies are as clear as can be.» Elijah did not get depressed: «God, I must have heard You wrong.»
He kept thanking God that rain was coming. He did not let the lack of evidence convince him that it was not going to happen. He kept looking for the rain. He kept talking like it was going to happen.
Don’t Let Naysayers Stop You
I can hear King Ahab kind of laughing: «Elijah, where is that rain you were talking about? You said there is going to be an abundance—I have not felt one little drop.»
Elijah said, «Ahab, I am not worried. I do not need a sign to believe. I am not dependent on the evidence. I know what God has spoken to me.»
Six Times No Sign
Elijah sent the assistant out and asked him to look and see if he saw any sign of rain again. He came back again and again and again with the same report: «Not a cloud in the sky. Perfectly clear.»
Six times no sign. Six times nothing had changed. Six times this negative report: «It is not going to happen, Elijah. Just accept it. No rain is coming.»
Your Seventh Time Is Near
You may be where Elijah was. You know what God has promised you—the health, the freedom, the abundance, a spouse, a child—but you have been looking, standing in faith, thanking God, but there is no evidence. Nothing is improving. No good breaks. You still cannot conceive.
This is when you have to dig down deep: «God, I am not moved by what I do not see. I know You are a faithful God. I am going to keep looking, keep expecting, keep praising, keep declaring, keep thanking You that it is on the way.»
The Small Cloud Appeared
Do not let the clear sky fool you. God can change things suddenly. He controls the universe. One touch of His favor and you will see the abundance of rain.
You are not seeing any sign of it? That is a test. What are you made of? Are you going to give up, get discouraged, settle for mediocrity? Or are you going to do like Elijah and keep believing despite what you are seeing?
On the seventh time the assistant came back and said, «This time I saw a small cloud in the sky about the size of a man’s hand.» It was not long after that that the heavens opened up. There was a huge downpour. The three-and-a-half-year drought suddenly came to an end.
Remarkable Rain Is Coming
Like Elijah many of you have been faithful. You believed when every circumstance said it was not going to happen. You did not listen to the naysayers. You did not get talked out of it. You have been looking for God’s goodness.
I believe you are about to come into your seventh time. You are about to see the open windows of heaven—something better than you have imagined, more rewarding, more fulfilling.
Something Out of the Ordinary
The Scripture says there was a remarkable rainstorm. God is going to do something remarkable in your life—out of the ordinary, that will exceed your expectations.
Now, it is significant that Elijah’s assistant—someone close to him—kept bringing him this news that it is not going to happen, there are no clouds.
Closest People Can Discourage
And he did not mean to be negative—he was just reporting the facts. But sometimes the people closest to you will try to talk you out of what God put in your heart.
They may mean well, but they did not hear what God spoke to you. They keep telling you what they saw.
We Serve a Supernatural God
You cannot let that drown out what you have heard. Do not let their negative comments, their doubt—"You still think you are going to get well? It has been a long battle. You really believe your child is going to get back on course? He is doing worse than ever. You think you are going to have a bountiful year? I do not see it—inflation, gas prices, the pandemic.»
They are looking at it in the natural, but we serve a supernatural God.
The Compaq Center Victory
But there will be these seasons like Elijah that you are looking, expecting, believing, but again and again there is no sign, no improvement.
Right after we acquired this place—the former Compaq Center—a company filed a lawsuit to try to keep us from moving in. They were a huge real estate company that owned all the property around this building.
We had just come off of this great victory, only to find out that it was now tied up in the courts and we could not move forward.
Months of No Progress
Our attorneys told us that it could take up to 10 years to settle. They had met with the other side, but they were in no hurry. In fact the more they delayed, the more at a disadvantage we were.
Our main attorney called and said, «Joel, they are playing hardball. They do not want to talk. They do not want to negotiate. They are stubborn.»
A month went by—nothing happened. Two months—nothing. Three months, four months, five months—like Elijah, not a cloud in the sky. No evidence it was ever going to work out.
Thanking God Anyway
I had to do what I am asking you to do: I just kept thanking God, «Father, I am not moved by what I do not see. I do not need a sign. I am not looking for evidence. God, I know when it is Your time all the forces of darkness cannot stop what You have ordained for us.»
Doubt would try to come—negative thoughts. People tried to talk us out of it.
Don’t Water Down Dreams
Our main attorney told me, «Joel, what if I get them to give you enough funds to build a facility like this somewhere else?» I told him, «We do not want somewhere else. This building is a landmark in Houston. Two million Houstonians had come to this building every year for 30 years.»
Do not let a lack of evidence cause you to water down your dreams. Do not settle for mediocrity. What God has for you is going to take resilience, determination, perseverance.
Suddenly It Happened
You have to have a made-up mind. You cannot be talked out of it. You cannot be moved by what you see, because what you see may contradict what God put in your heart.
You may not see anything improving. I did not see the other side letting up. I did not see any sign of progress.
Like Elijah we heard «No» three times, four times, five times—no evidence, no budging, no movement.
Your Breakthrough Is Close
But if you will stay in faith you are going to come into your seventh time where things suddenly happen—suddenly doors open, suddenly the wrong people are moved out of the way, suddenly your health begins to turn around.
One day unexpectedly—almost two years later—our attorneys said that the other side had called and said they wanted to meet.
He said, «Joel, do not get your hopes up. This is probably just a ploy to distract us.» He did not realize my hopes had already been up. For two years I had been thanking God, looking for His goodness, expecting His favor.
God Brings the Right People
We met with the CEO of the company. The first thing he said was, «Joel, I watch you on television each week and my son-in-law is a youth pastor.»
God knows how to bring the right people at the right time. 24 hours later they had agreed to let us have the building and to lease us 9,000 covered parking spaces so we did not have to build a garage.
Waiting Prepares You
You may not see any sign of what you are believing for. You could get discouraged. Let the lack of evidence talk you out of it. No—stay in faith. God is working behind the scenes.
Who knows—you may be on your fourth time, your fifth time? This is not the time to give up. You are closer than you think. Your seventh time is coming. It is going to happen suddenly. It is going to be supernatural—something that you could not make happen.
The truth is that CEO could have shown up two years earlier. He could have come three months in. I would not have had to pray and believe and trust.
Silent Seasons Build Faith
But these times we have to wait, believe, not be moved by what we do not see—that is preparing us for the new levels God has in store.
Do not get discouraged because it is not happening on your timetable. Everything is serving God’s plan.
Prove Who You Are to God
When you are waiting, staying in faith, believing when there is no sign—you are growing. You are showing God what you are made of.
Instead of God proving to you who He is, you are proving to Him who you are.
I mean anybody can get discouraged. Anybody can be a Thomas: «I am not going to believe unless I see it.» But God is looking for Elijahs—people that are not moved by the lack of evidence, people that do not water down their dreams, people that believe without a sign.
Lakewood’s 13-Year Wait
At 17 years old God put a dream in my father’s heart that one day he would pastor a church with thousands of people.
He was raised very poor, got off the farm. In 1959 he and my mother started Lakewood on Mother’s Day with 90 people.
He eventually named the church «Lakewood International Outreach Center.» The fact is it was a small neighborhood church, but he called it an «International Outreach"—that dream was still alive.
No Growth for 13 Years
But for 13 years Lakewood did not really grow. It had less than 200 people.
My father knew what God had spoken to him—a church with thousands—but there was no evidence.
He could have gotten discouraged: «God, show me a sign. Let me know that it is going to happen.»
But year after year my mother and father just kept being their best. He preached to those 90 people, thanking God that what he heard in his spirit was on the way.
God Withholds Evidence to Grow Us
It would be so much easier if we saw a good break, had a little growth, the right person showed up. But sometimes God will withhold the evidence.
He is seeing what we are going to do. Are we going to be a Thomas: «God, I will believe, I will give You my best if You show me a sign»?
No—God is giving you an opportunity to grow, to trust Him in a greater way, to prove to Him that you will walk by faith and not by sight so He can entrust you with more.
The Faucet Opened Suddenly
In 1972—13 years later—it was like God opened up a faucet. People started coming to Lakewood from all over the city. Lakewood grew from a couple hundred to a church over time of many thousands.
He saw what God put in his spirit. But God could have done that the first year, the second year. But we have to pass these tests.
Don’t Walk Away from Dreams
We all go through silent seasons where we are praying, believing, but nothing is changing. You do not see any sign that what God promised you is going to happen.
You will be tempted to walk away from a dream, to give up on a child, a spouse, a breakthrough: «God, if You will just do what You did for Hezekiah—prove that You will do it—then I will believe again.»
Your Abundance Is on the Way
But most of the time it is going to be like Elijah—no sign, people saying it is not going to happen, your thoughts telling you, «It is never going to rain.»
Do like he did: do not be moved by what you see. The skies may be clear right now, but your seventh time is coming.
God sees your faithfulness. He sees you believing when there is no evidence. You are closer than you think. The clouds are starting to form right now.
I believe and declare: your abundance of rain is on the way. What you are believing for is going to happen suddenly, unexpectedly—healing, favor, breakthroughs, divine connections, the fullness of your destiny, in Jesus' name.
And if you receive it, can you say amen? Amen.