Joel Osteen - Freedom in the Fire

Joel Osteen explains how just as fire is necessary to release seeds from sequoia cones and promote new growth in forests, God uses difficult «fires» in our lives—trials, losses, and pressures—to unlock hidden potential, gifts, and destiny within us, ultimately leading to greater freedom, favor, and abundance.

The Miracle of Fire in Nature

I want to talk to you today about Freedom in the Fire. In the National Park in California there are these huge sequoia trees. They stand over three hundred feet tall. They can live over two thousand years. They are magnificent trees. On the branches they develop a cone. Inside that cone are the seeds to produce new sequoia trees. What is significant is those seeds are locked up in the cone. They do not just naturally come out over time.

Seeds Trapped for Centuries

The seeds can be in the cone for hundreds of years and never produce a tree. The only way the cone will open is through fire. Lightning will strike, the heat from the fire will cause the cone to open, the seeds are able to germinate and become what they were created to be.

But I always saw fire as a bad thing, «Oh, man, there’s another fire in the forest,» not realizing the fire was all a part of God’s plan. It is how He designed nature to work. One article talked about how people tried to put out these natural fires for years as quickly as possible, not realizing that was doing more damage to the forest. Now there were no new trees. The fire was necessary for new growth.

Hidden Seeds Inside You

In the same way there are seeds that are locked up in you: seeds of favor, seeds of greatness, seeds of purpose. The only way they will come out is through fire. We do not like the fire—being uncomfortable, going through things you do not understand, business slowed down, a friend walked away, a medical report was not good. It is easy to get discouraged, water down your dreams.

God’s Purpose in Every Trial

But God will not allow a difficulty unless He has a purpose for it. There is potential locked up in you that will only come out through adversity. There are gifts and talents that you will not discover without going through times when it is uncomfortable.

David said (Psalm 4:1), «God enlarged me in my distress.» He did not say, «God enlarged me in my good times. Enlarged me when everyone was celebrating me.» He said, «God enlarged me when I faced a giant twice my size. God enlarged me when King Saul was trying to kill me. God enlarged me when my own father did not believe in me.»

How Fire Revealed David’s Greatness

It was in that fire that David discovered talent that he did not know he had. In the fire he stepped into courage, favor, greatness that he would have never known had he not felt the heat, the pressure, the adversity.

You may be in the fire now, thinking, «God, what is going on in my life? This trouble, this child that is off course, this medical situation, it is setting me back.» No, the truth is it is setting you up. What you cannot see is God is enlarging you. You are about to step into new levels of your destiny.

New Growth Coming Soon!

You are going to see new growth, new opportunity, new talent. It could not happen without the fire. You may not see it yet, but there is favor in that fire, there is promotion in that fire, there is freedom in that fire. The fire is opening up things that you would have never seen. Do not fight the fire. Stay faithful in the fire.

The right attitude is, «God, I do not like it. I am uncomfortable, but I trust You. I know You are in control. You would not have allowed this difficulty unless it was making me better.»

God Controls the Thermostat

I have learned: God will not mismanage your life. He knows how much fire, how much heat, how much pressure you can handle. He controls the thermostat. If that fire was going to take you out, He would not have allowed it. You are well able. You are strong in the Lord. You are full of can-do power.

Keep the right perspective: that fire is not going to burn you up. It is releasing you into new levels. The fire is all a part of God’s plan so you can become everything you were created to be.

Why Peter Called Them «Fiery» Trials

That is why Peter said (1 Peter 4:12), «Do not think it is strange when you face fiery trials.» He could have said, «When you face difficulties, adversities,» but he used the word «fiery.» God was saying, «Sometimes I am going to let you go through the fire, through things you do not understand, things that are not fair.»

You will be tempted to get bitter, upset, but trust Him in the fire. He is ordering your steps. He is still in control. He would not have allowed it if it was going to stop you. That fire is opening up seeds to your destiny, levels you could never reach without the fire.

The Truth About Controlled Burns

Sometimes forest rangers will do what is called a controlled burn. They will set a fire on purpose to burn off the underbrush. They carefully study and plan exactly what needs to be burned. When difficulties come against us it can seem like things are out of control—"I lost my main client, was diagnosed with this illness, the pandemic, inflation, gas prices.» It feels like a wildfire.

But can I encourage you? You are in a controlled burn. God has you in the palm of His hand. He sees what you are going through. He knows who hurt you, what you did not get, what was not fair. He would not have let you get in the fire if He was not going to bring you out of the fire.

You Won’t Come Out the Same

The good news is: you are not going to come out the same. The enemy meant it to stop you, but God only allowed it so He can promote you. The fire is a sign that you are about to bloom, you are about to blossom. You are going to discover talent, potential, favor that you have never seen.

Do not believe the lies that the fire is out of control—"You will never get well, you will never meet the right person, never get out of this trouble.» That fire is coming to an end. Before the fire ever started God set the boundaries. He planned how long, how much, how hot, the strategy.

Job’s Ashes to Double Blessing

That is not a random fire. That is a controlled fire. The enemy is not in charge of your life. He cannot do whatever he wants. You are God’s property. You belong to the Most High. He created you. He breathed life into you. He planned your days for good. And yes, we all go through the fire, but God has a comeback for every setback, healing for every hurt, mercy for every mistake. You are not doing life on your own.

In the Scripture Satan wanted to test Job, but God had a hedge of protection around him. He could not just go and put Job into fire. He had to ask God for permission. This shows us that everything is a controlled burn. The enemy cannot touch you without God’s permission.

From Ashes to Abundance

Job was a good man. He honored God, but he went through all this trouble: lost his business, lost his health, lost his family. He got so discouraged he sat down among the ashes. His wife said, «Job, just curse God and die.» She was very encouraging. At one point Job got his passion back. He looked up to the heavens and said, «I know my Redeemer lives.» He was saying, «God, I trust You. I do not understand it. It does not seem fair, but I know You are still in control.»

God not only restored Job, gave him his health back, but He brought him out with double. Job had twice the sheep, twice the cattle, twice the joy. The Scripture says (Job 42:16), «Job went on to live a hundred and forty years and enjoyed his children and grandchildren.»

Are You Sitting in Ashes Today?

Maybe like Job you are sitting in the ashes, looking at what you lost, what did not work out, what you are up against. You could easily live discouraged. It feels like a wildfire. The truth is: it is a controlled burn. God would not have allowed it if you were not going to come out better.

There are seeds of increase, seeds of healing, seeds of destiny that are about to open. Yes, it was unfair, but when you come out on the other side like Job—stronger, healthier, more confident—you are going to say, «Look what the Lord has done.» There was freedom in the fire. There were new levels in that fire.

David said (Psalm 66:12), «We went through the fire and You brought us to a place of great abundance.» Notice, the abundance is on the other side of the fire. On the other side of the trouble, the breakup, the loss is an abundance of joy, an abundance of strength, an abundance of resources. The fire is necessary to see the fullness of your destiny.

Joel’s Personal Fire That Changed Everything

When my father went to be with the Lord back in 1999, I was thrown in the fire. I did not like it. My whole world was turned upside down. My father and I were best friends. I had worked with him for 17 years. Now he was gone. Everything felt like it was out of control.

But looking back now I realize: it was a controlled burn. I was uncomfortable. I was disappointed. What I could not see is there were seeds of my destiny opening up in that fire. Seeds that had been locked up in that cone: gifts, talents that would have lain dormant without the heat.

Hidden Gifts Only Fire Reveals

I did not think I could get up in front of people. I had never ministered before, but I discovered ability that I never knew I had. When my father passed, I suddenly had the desire to step up and pastor the church. I never wanted to before. For 36 years he tried to get me up here. Then overnight it changed.

Some things can only be released in the fire. I wish I could tell you that you will reach your destiny with just good breaks, good education, doors opening, people being for you, but that is not reality. God uses closed doors, disappointments, betrayals, even loss.

Why the Pandemic Was Our Collective Fire

In one sense we have all been in the fire: the pandemic. People have lost loved ones, could not be together, businesses struggled, loneliness. But God would not have allowed us to go in the fire if He did not have something better coming. Do not water down your dreams. Do not quit believing. This fire is a sign that new growth is coming. You are about to bloom, to see favor you have not seen, doors open that you could never open, to go places that you have never dreamed.

«Joel, it did not happen for me. I have been in the fire a long time. Nothing has worked out.» Do not judge your situation too soon. God has not forgotten about you. He sees you doing the right thing when it is hard. He sees you being good to people that are not good to you. He sees you taking the treatment, not complaining, raising those children, nobody thanking you.

Your Shift Is Coming!

There is about to be a shift, a turnaround. You have been faithful in the fire. Now you are about to see favor in the fire. You are coming into great abundance, great opportunities, great relationships, great fulfillment.

The Day a Dog Unlocked Superhuman Strength

I was eight years old playing baseball with some friends in my backyard. The ball accidentally went over the fence into the neighbor’s yard. They owned this German shepherd that was huge. He was the meanest dog ever created. If you looked at him, he would start to growl, show his teeth like he was going to tear into you. We were terrified of him. Fortunately they kept him in a fenced-in area in their backyard, a 20-foot square chain-link fence.

I had my friends give me a boost and I looked over the fence. I could see the dog was in his cage looking the other way. He was about 50-60 feet away. I very quietly climbed over the fence and walked to the ball as gently as I could.

Pressure Reveals Hidden Power

Right when I got to it, the dog turned and saw me. He jumped to his feet growling ferociously. He ran toward the gate, bumped up against it, and it opened. Somebody did not close it properly. I nearly passed out. He took off running to me 90 miles an hour. I took off toward that fence, the whole time praying the sinner’s prayer: «God, forgive me of my sins. I am about to come see You.»

I got to the fence. I was small, about four feet tall. It was a six-foot wood fence. I grabbed the top with one hand. All in one motion I jumped as high as I could. Somehow I jumped over that six-foot fence right before the dog got to me.

It is amazing what you can do when you are put under pressure. When the fire is turned up, seeds you have never tapped into begin to open up. They say «white men can’t jump.» That day I got off the ground, y’all.

Three Teens Who Refused to Bow

You will discover potential, courage, strength, creativity that only comes out in the fire. Now, you may not have an angry dog chasing you. Maybe it is a boss that is hard to get along with, or you are dealing with a sickness, a setback in your finances. What you do in the fire matters. How you respond in the pressure will determine whether you come out better or whether you get stuck.

You are not going to understand everything that happens. Life is not always fair. Sometimes it feels like a wildfire. Nothing is working out. You have to remind yourself: it is a controlled burn. God allowed that fire not to defeat you, but to promote you.

In the Scripture three Hebrew teenagers would not bow down to the king’s golden idol, and he was furious. He told them if they did not bow, he was going to have them thrown into a fiery furnace. They still would not bow.

The Fourth Man Nobody Expected

They could have been upset, «God, we are doing the right thing. Now we are about to be thrown into a fire. Why is this happening?» No, they understood this principle that it was a controlled burn. It looked like the king was in charge. The truth is: he was a pawn in the hands of God. God is not just in control of your life. He is in control of your enemies.

The guards tied the hands and feet of the teenagers up and threw them into the furnace. That fire was so hot the guards were killed. That should have been the end, but God will not let you go in a fire that He cannot bring you out of. If it is not your time to go, you are not going to go.

The king looked in the furnace window and said, «Did we not throw three men in? I see four men loose. One looks like the Son of God.» What is interesting is the teenagers could not see the fourth man. The only ones that could see it were on the outside.

You’re Never Alone in the Flames

When you are in the fire, you may not see what God is doing. You do not think anything is changing. Nothing is improving. But you can be sure: the fourth man is in there with you. The beauty of our God is He never lets you go in the fire alone.

The king could not believe it. He had them brought out. The first thing he said is: from now on we are all going to worship the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Sometimes you go through the fire so other people will see the hand of God on your life.

Fire Meant to Destroy Becomes Promotion

They will see the cancer could not take you out, the bad break did not defeat you, the betrayal did not stop your destiny. The Scripture says (Daniel 3:30), «The king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to much higher positions in Babylon.» The enemy sent the fire to destroy them, but notice how God works: He turned it around and used it to promote them.

Now you may be in the fire now. Odds are against you. It seems like the sickness, the trouble, the bad break is going to limit your life. What you cannot see is there is a fourth man in there with you. When you come out, people are going to see you in a new light. Seeds that have been locked up for years are opening up: seeds of promotion, seeds of influence, seeds of honor.

The Fire That Launched Lakewood

We pray, «God, keep us out of the fire. It is hot. It is uncomfortable,» but you cannot reach your full potential without the fire.

In the late 1950s my father was pastoring a growing church that had just built a beautiful new sanctuary. It held a thousand people. He was on the state board for his denomination. Life was good. My sister Lisa was born with something like cerebral palsy. The doctors told my parents she would probably never be able to walk or feed herself. They were devastated.

My father went to a hotel downtown to pray and read the Scripture. He saw how Jesus went around healing people, how when you believe all things are possible. He came back to his church with this new message of faith and victory. He thought they would be so excited, but it was just the opposite. It did not fit into their tradition, their denomination.

Rejection That Led to Destiny

There was so much opposition, contention, he had to leave the church. For years he had poured his heart and soul into those people. My mother had lifelong friends that never spoke to her again. He never dreamed he would be put out of his own church. He could have been upset, «God, why did this happen?»

But I have learned: do not put a question mark where God put a period. Some things we are not going to understand right now. The Scripture says, «God makes all things beautiful in its time.» Give it some time.

My mother and father went out and started Lakewood with 90 people on Mother’s Day in 1959. Instead of the beautiful new sanctuary, they had an old rundown feed store that someone let them borrow. It had holes in the floor that they had to cover. People said it would never last, but 66 years later here we are still going strong.

Setbacks Are Really Setups

But my father was very disappointed at the time. It felt like a huge step backwards. But what looks like a setback is really God setting you up. When you get in the fire, it is because new seeds are going to come to life, new talents, new opportunities.

My father could not see it at the time. Going through the rejection was painful, but if he had stayed in that limited environment, he would have never blossomed. That fire was necessary so he could step up to who he was created to be. Do not fight the fire: there is favor in the fire. You may not be able to see it yet, but the fourth man is in there with you.

Today my sister Lisa is perfectly normal. God healed her. She has lived a healthy life. But think about this: if Lisa had not been born with that negative diagnosis, my father would have never read the Scripture in a new light, which is why they asked him to leave. That is how he stepped into his destiny.

God’s Ways Are Higher

What am I saying? We are not going to understand everything God does. Sometimes you get thrown in the fire. It does not make sense. You have to trust that God knows what He is doing. He is strategic. He can see things we cannot see. There are seeds in you right now, potential that you have not tapped into, gifts, talents, courage that can only come out with the heat, the pressure, the closed doors, the loss. It is uncomfortable. We do not like it, but the fire is not working against you. It is working for you.

Moses and the Burning Bush Revival

Moses was living on the backside of the desert in hiding. Forty years earlier he killed an Egyptian foreman that was mistreating a Hebrew slave. He knew he was called to deliver the Israelites, but he got out of God’s timing and had to flee for his life. He was discouraged. He felt like he missed his destiny.

But one day out in the desert God came to him in a burning bush. He could have come to him in a cloud, very peaceful, at a lake, very serene. But God came to him in a fire. Moses went over to this bush that would not burn up.

What did God say? «Moses, you blew it. You have made too many mistakes. You have missed your destiny»? No, God said, «I have not forgotten what I promised you. You are still going to deliver the Israelites. You are still going to lead My people.»

Your Second Chance Is Here

That fire was saying, «Moses, you are about to blossom. You are about to see new gifts, new opportunities.» Like Moses you may think you have missed your chance. If you had only made better decisions, been more disciplined, it has been too long now. Those seeds are still in you. You may have given up, but God has not given up.

It did not work out the first time. God sent me as your burning bush: it is going to work out the next time. You have not seen the best part of you. There are seeds our Creator put in you that He has been waiting to open: blessings, favor, promotion.

From Prison to Pastor: An Unbelievable Turnaround

The enemy tried to use the fire to stop you: failures, mistakes. But he miscalculated. He thought it was a wildfire, that he was in charge. The truth is: it was a controlled burn. God is going to take that fire and use it to propel you into new levels of your destiny.

A friend of mine was raised in a very rough environment in South America. Eight years old he saw his grandfather get into a fight and stab someone to death. That spirit of violence and anger came on him. As a teenager living in the Bronx, he was always in trouble. In and out of jail, he was arrested one time for shooting at a police officer.

He ended up in prison facing a life sentence. He had 18 counts against him. Everything you can imagine: drug trafficking, violent crimes, theft. It looked like that was his destiny. Sometimes we are thrown into the fire and it is not our fault. We did not choose the fire. It is what we were born into. It is how we were raised.

A Bible Sent by «Mistake» Changed Everything

He called his mother and said he needed a book on spirits. He thought someone had put a curse on him. His mother called this lady that was involved in the occult. She sent her son a book. He opened it. Much to his surprise it was the Bible. He was furious. He did not have anything to do with God.

The next morning he picked it up and began to read it. He could not put it down. He read the whole New Testament in three days. That night he got down on his knees and said, «God, if You are alive like You say You are in the Bible, then come into my cell and save me, and I will serve You the rest of my life.»

He went to sleep. At 5:30 in the morning he heard a voice calling his name, «Salvador.» He woke up, looked around. Nobody was there. He thought he was dreaming. Went back to bed. Heard it again so clearly, «Salvador.» He said, «I had taken so many drugs in my life, I knew I was going crazy.» The third time he heard the voice he realized it was God calling his name.

His life was forever changed. By the grace of God he only served four and a half years. Today he is Pastor Salvador Sabina, a great pastor in the Bronx. He went through the fire. Now he is on fire. He goes all over the world telling his story.

You Will Come Out Fireproof

The Scripture says (Isaiah 43:2), «You will go through the fire, but you will not be burned.» There are things that have come against you that should have stopped your destiny, but the fourth man was in the fire with you. Even when you could not see Him, even when you were not making good choices, even when you were running, He did not let the fire take you out.

The enemy meant it for harm. He thought it would stop your purpose. He did not realize: you are God’s property. You belong to your Creator. He has been watching over you your whole life.

And friends, the fire comes to us all: things we did not ask for. I cannot promise you that you will never have fire, but I can promise you that you are in a controlled burn, that God knows what He is doing. That pressure, that heat is causing your seeds of greatness to open up.

Freedom and New Growth Await

Do not fight the fire. There is freedom in the fire. There is new growth in the fire. When you are under pressure: recognize God is up to something. You may be dealing with things now that you do not understand, but God said He is going to bring you through the fire without the smell of smoke. You are not going to look like what you have been through.

When the teenagers came out, not a hair on their head was burned. He may not keep you from the fire, but He will make you fireproof.

My challenge is: stay faithful in the fire. God has not failed you in the past. He is not going to start now. I believe and declare: like Job, you are going to come out of the fire with double. Like David said, into great abundance. New doors are about to open. Negative situations are turning around. Healing is coming, breakthroughs, promotion, the fullness of your destiny, in Jesus' name.

And if you receive it, can you say amen?