Joel Osteen - The Promise is Coming (NEW)
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Even when promises from God seem delayed and discouragement creeps in, patient endurance and waiting with expectancy are key, as Hebrews reminds us we’ll receive all He promised—just like David waited in the fields until Samuel arrived, or my mother believed for healing despite a terminal diagnosis, the promise is already in route and the Coming One will show up soon.
The Promise Is Already on the Way!
I want to talk to you today about the promise is coming. We are all waiting for something: waiting for a dream to come to pass or waiting for health to improve, waiting for a child to turn around. When it has taken a long time and we do not see anything happening, it is easy to get discouraged and think that it is not meant to be.
But the Scripture says in Hebrews 10:36, «Patient endurance is what you need now. Then you will receive all that God has promised.» This is saying, «Do not get talked out of what God put in your heart. Just because it has not happened yet does not mean it is not going to happen.»
God Heard You—It’s on the Schedule
God is faithful. He heard your request; He sees you standing in faith; He hears you thanking Him when you could be complaining. What you are believing for is on the way. When you prayed in faith according to God’s will, He put the promise on the schedule. He already set the time to bring it to pass.
You may not see any sign of it—nothing looks like it is changing—but God is working behind the scenes. Things are happening right now that you cannot see. He is lining up the right people, arranging the good breaks, the healing, the freedom, the abundance. It is just a matter of time before you see what God is up to.
Pass the Discouragement Test
But here is the key: before the promise is fulfilled, you have to pass the discouragement test—where you are waiting and you do not see anything happening. Doubt comes saying, «Man, it would have happened by now. It is too late—you will never get well, never meet the right person, never see your family restored.»
This is where many people miss their miracle. They get discouraged and think that God has forgotten about them. What you do while you are waiting will determine whether you see the promise.
Patient Endurance Leads to the Fullness
That is why God said, «You need patient endurance.» Not just patience, but endurance. That means you are not going to be talked out of it—you are going to keep thanking God when you do not see any sign; you are going to keep believing when every circumstance says, «There is no way.»
When you do that, God says you will receive all that He promised—not some, not most of it, not 90 percent. No, you will see the fullness of the blessing.
Don’t Water Down Your Dreams
Now, you may be in a waiting season now. You are tempted to give up on what God has put in your heart, settle for less. No, do not water down your dreams. Do not let delays convince you to lower your expectations: «Just live with the sickness. It is okay to be by yourself—you will never meet a spouse. You cannot start that business—you are doing all right; just accept where you are.»
No, God did not put that promise in you to tease you, to get your hopes up and then never let it happen. He put it there because He has every intention of bringing it to pass.
Dig Your Heels In—Holy Determination!
You have to dig your heels in and have some holy determination. Your attitude should be, «I am in it for the long haul. I will not give up; I will not let doubt, people, delay, circumstances, bad breaks talk me out of what God put in my heart.» You have to have a made-up mind.
We are all going to wait, but how we wait makes all the difference.
Wait Expectantly—Like David Did
David said in Psalms, «Bring your request before God and wait expectantly.» Wait in faith—wait knowing that God is working, wait expecting it to show up. Every time doubt comes—“It has been too long; it is never going to happen”—turn it around: «Father, thank You that healing is coming. Thank You that breakthroughs are coming. Thank You that abundance is coming.»
Waiting in Faith, Not in Doubt
It is not enough to just pray in faith—that is important—but you have to wait in faith, wait with expectancy. Not, «God, this has taken so long—I just do not understand it.» That kind of waiting is canceling out your prayer.
Try a different approach: «Lord, I thank You that what You promised me is already en route. I know it could happen this month, it could happen this week, it could happen today. Lord, I am expecting Your goodness—I am expecting the right person to show up. I am expecting my health to turn around.»
Waiting Seasons Prepare You for Greater
Now, while you are waiting, there will be plenty of tests. If you are single and believing to meet someone, do not be surprised if you see your best friend get married, your cousin, your co-worker, your next-door neighbor, your great-great-grandmother—she is 94 years old and just went to Cancun on her honeymoon and asked you to keep the dog.
You will be tempted to think, «I give up.» The right attitude is, «God, You did it for them—I know You can do it for me. I know my time is coming. I know what You promised me is already on the schedule.»
Long Waits Mean Bigger Blessings
Here is what I have learned: when it has taken a long time, it is because what God has for you is going to be better than you thought—more rewarding, more fulfilling. Do not despise the waiting period. God knows what is best for us.
Sometimes we are waiting because another person is not ready, or we are waiting because God is getting us prepared to handle the weight of blessing. It is going to be a big blessing, but it is going to require greater maturity, greater character.
Trust God’s Perfect Timing
We all want everything fast—me included—but God knows when the right time is. One of the best things I have learned is to trust God’s timing. It has not happened yet—then it has not been the right time.
But I can assure you: when God is ready, all the forces of darkness cannot hold Him back. It says in Habakkuk, «God has an appointed time to bring the promise to pass, and it will not be one second late.»
God Catapults You Ahead at the Right Time
Thoughts will tell you, «You are falling behind. You are missing out. God must have forgotten about you.» When you come into your appointed time, God will make up for what looks like lost time. God knows how to catapult you ahead.
He knows how to thrust you from the background to the foreground. It looks like it will take years to get well, but one touch of God’s favor and suddenly it happens. Years for your business to grow, but when you hit that appointed time, suddenly it takes off—suddenly you meet the right person; suddenly your child is back on course.
Get a New Grip on His Promises
You cannot explain it; it does not make sense—it is just the goodness of God pushing you into your destiny. How does this happen? Through patient endurance—believing when there is no sign, thanking God that it is coming when your mind says it is never going to happen.
You may have been waiting a long time, and thoughts are trying to talk you out of it. God is saying, «Get a new grip.» Take hold of His promises in a new way.
Be a Believer, Not a Doubter
Make up your mind that no matter how long it takes or how impossible it looks, you are going to be a believer and not a doubter. The right attitude is, «What God promised me will come to pass. I will lend and not borrow. I will live and not die. My children will be mighty in the land. I am free from every addiction. My latter days will be better than my former days.»
You keep declaring that—keep waiting with expectancy—you are going to see God show out in your life. He is going to do things that are uncommon, unusual—you did not see it coming. It is the greatness of our God.
Know God as the Coming One
The next verse in Hebrews says, «For in just a little while, the coming one will come and will not delay.» It is significant that right after it talks about having patient endurance, it refers to God as the coming one.
This is saying: while you are waiting—while thoughts of doubt are trying to talk you out of it—you need to have this image of God as the coming one—not the delayed one, not the forgot-about-you one, not the you-do-not-deserve-it one, not the late one.
The Coming One Is Already En Route
Have a new perspective: the God we serve is the coming one. He is coming with healing; He is coming with favor; He is coming with salvation for your children; He is coming with that dream He put in your heart; He is coming with the spouse He already picked out for you; He is coming with freedom for your loved ones; He is coming with abundance for your family.
Thoughts would tell you, «It is never going to happen.» Can I encourage you? The coming one is already on the way. The healing is already en route. The abundance is already in motion. That breakthrough is already heading toward you.
In Just a Little While—Not Forever!
When you know this, it is easy to wait with expectancy; it is easy to believe when you do not see a sign. You know God as not just your Savior, not just as your Creator, but you know Him as the coming one.
I love what it says, «For in a little while, the coming one will come and not delay.» It does not say, «In a long time—years from now, sometime in the sweet by and by you are going to be blessed.» No—in just a little while you are going to see God do something awesome in your life.
Sooner Than You Think!
In just a little while the right person is going to show up. In just a little while your business is going to take off. In just a little while your health is going to turn around.
Do not believe those forever lies—the enemy loves to whisper, «It is going to be years before you get well, years before that depression leaves, years before you break that addiction.» It is trying to get you discouraged, doubting—will you give up on your dreams?
It’s Already In Route—Check the Tracking!
Do not fall into that trap. God says: in just a little while what you are believing for is going to show up. Keep that playing in your mind—not forever, but a little while; not permanent, but in a little while; not never going to change, but in a little while.
That is how you wait with expectancy—knowing the God we serve is not a distant, far-off God. He is the coming one, and in just a little while He is going to show up.
Your Order Is In Route!
A few months ago I ordered some sports equipment online, and the company was in California. I waited a week and nothing came—two weeks, nothing—and I was concerned that my order did not go through or maybe I did not put down the right information.
I went to the website, and it gave me a tracking number for my purchase. I typed it in—in big block letters it came up «In route.» When I saw that, everything changed. I was not concerned anymore—did not wonder if it was going to make it; did not worry if I filled out something wrong. That is all I needed to know—that it was «In route.»
God Doesn’t Give Tracking Details—Trust Him!
When you pray according to God’s will—when you bring your request to Him like David said—in one sense you place the order. You ask God for what He promised: for health, for freedom, for strength, for abundance. You made your request, but like with me, as time goes on you may not see anything happening.
You think, «I wonder if God heard me. I wonder if this will ever change. Maybe I do not deserve it; maybe it was not meant to be”—all this doubt and worry trying to talk you out of it.
But if you were able to go to that heavenly computer, so to speak—type in your request that you made—you know what you would see? In route!
Healing, Freedom, Breakthrough—In Route!
The moment you prayed, God set the miracle into motion—He dispatched angels with that promise. You are praying for salvation for your child—check the computer: in route! Healing from this cancer: in route! Freedom from this addiction—“Joel, I do not see anything happening”—be patient; it is in route.
„Well, I am believing to start my own business, but no doors have opened”—let me check: in route!
Faith When You Can’t See It
Do not get discouraged because you have not seen it yet—it may take a little time, but the good news is: it is already headed your way. Now the question is: will you have patient endurance? Will you keep believing when you do not have a sign?
Will you keep waiting with expectancy, knowing that God is faithful? Will you keep thanking Him that it is in route? This is what faith is all about. You cannot see it; nothing is changing—thoughts tell you, „It is too late; you missed your opportunity; God did not hear you.“ You have to walk by faith and not by sight.
Secret Promises Are In Route Too
„God, I do not have to see it yet—I trust You. I know You are faithful. I believe what You promised me is already in route.“
There are secret things that God whispered to you in the night—things you have not told anyone; they seem too good to be true. Can I encourage you? They are in route.
You have not seen, heard, or imagined what God has coming your way.
Ease and Freedom Are Coming Soon
Those struggles that are weighing you down—the pressures that can seem overwhelming—do not look like they will ever change. You are doing the right thing—you are being your best at work, taking care of your children, keeping a good attitude when it is not fair.
God sees your faithfulness; He has heard your prayers—He has things in route that are going to lighten that load. Ease is coming; freedom is in route; abundance is in route; the right people are already in route.
David Waited Expectantly—Samuel Came!
God is going to lift you out of that difficulty, set your feet on a rock, and put a new song in your heart—not years and years from now, but in a little while. Sooner than you think, the coming one is going to show up.
He said in Malachi 4:2, „He is coming with healing in His wings.“ He is coming with freedom; He is coming with strength; He is coming with victory.
When I found that tracking number, I discovered that I could go to a map and track the truck that was bringing the equipment—came from California, went to Phoenix, then to El Paso, and up to Oklahoma City. It had the whole route laid out with the projected dates and times where it would be at each location.
God Knows the Route—You Just Trust
Once I found that out, I did not have to wonder—I could see exactly where it was. I knew on a certain date it would be at my house. It is great when we have all the information—makes it so much easier—but can I warn you? God does not give you any details.
The promises do not come with the tracking number. He does not tell you when, where, how. All He tells you is that it is in route: „What I said, I will do. What I have spoken, I will bring to pass.“
David’s Praise in the Waiting
This is when your faith has to kick in: „God, I do not see any sign of it. My mind says it is not going to happen. People tell me it is not going to work out. The facts say it is too late—but God, I am not moved by what I see; I am moved by what I know. And I know You are the coming one. I know in just a little while I will see what You promised.“
See, sometimes we trust the shipping company more than we trust God. We trust Amazon more than we trust the coming one. They are people—they can make mistakes: He is God; He can never fail. Quit worrying; quit believing the doubt. What God promised you is on the way.
Samuel Came Looking for David
David was a teenager out in the shepherds’ fields, taking care of his father’s sheep. He had a big dream in his heart—he knew God called him to do great things—but there was not any sign of that happening.
His brothers were in the military—they had prestigious positions—but being the youngest, he got stuck out with the animals. He could have been depressed: „God, it is not fair. It is never going to change.“ But David understood the power of waiting with expectancy.
The Coming One Knows How to Find You
I can imagine out in those lonely fields—that is where he wrote some of the Psalms. Maybe he wrote Psalm 40: „I waited patiently for the Lord. He heard my cry and answered my prayer.“ Perhaps he wrote Psalm 34: „I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will continually be in my mouth.“
He was saying, „While I am waiting, I will praise Him. When nothing is changing, I will praise Him. When I feel stuck, I will praise Him. When I am overlooked and underestimated, I will still praise Him.“
Your Samuel Is Already In Route
Maybe that is where he wrote Psalm 27: „I am confident I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.“ Listen to his attitude: stuck out in the shepherds’ fields—no way out in the natural—but he is saying, „I am confident the coming one is on the way. I am confident favor is coming, new opportunities are coming, vindication is coming.“
While he was out there waiting expectantly—waiting believing God was working, waiting knowing that his purpose would come to pass—the prophet Samuel started walking toward his house.
God Brings It to You
Samuel came knocking on his father’s door to choose the next king of Israel. He looked at the seven brothers and said, „It is none of these. Do you have another son?“ They called David in from the fields.
Notice: David did not go looking for Samuel—Samuel came looking for David. His father left him out, but God called him in. His father overlooked him, but God shined down on him. What was that? The coming one. Our God knows how to come to you.
One Touch of Favor Changes Everything
Like David, you may feel stuck, overlooked—the dream too big; it seems too late. Have a new perspective: the coming one is on the way. He is coming with healing; He is coming with favor; He is coming with breakthroughs; He is coming with new opportunities.
Samuel is about to show up—good breaks looking for you, the right people tracking you down. While David was out there doing the right thing with a good attitude, he did not know it, but Samuel was already in route.
My Mother’s Swimming Pool Miracle
He did not have any sign of it—nobody told him, „Hey, this prophet is looking for you.“ You do not know what is already in route to you. You cannot see the blessings, the favor, the influence that God has already set in motion.
Your appointed time is coming. Your Samuel is going to come knocking at your door. You will not have to make this happen—manipulate people, try to force your way up. God is going to bring it to you. Everyone will know it is His favor on your life.
Richard Came From Louisiana—Unexpectedly!
If David were here today, he would tell you, „Do not let the circumstances fool you. You may not see how your dream can come to pass, how you can get well—but when the coming one shows up, one touch of God’s favor, one Samuel knocking on your door, one slingshot, one Goliath being defeated—and you will step into levels that you have never imagined.“
When I was growing up, my mother always wanted a swimming pool in our backyard. There were five of us kids, and she told my father—and normally Daddy would have given her anything he possibly could—but he did not want to have anything to do with a swimming pool.
Patient Endurance Pays Off
He said, „Dodie, they are too expensive; they are too much trouble—I do not want one.“ His mind was made up, but my mother had patient endurance—in other words, she was stubborn. She would not take no for an answer. She kept asking, kept bringing it up—my father would not budge.
One day she was out in the backyard with a tape measure. Daddy went out and asked what she was doing. She said, „I am measuring off where we are going to put my swimming pool.“
The Pool Was Already In Route
He said, „Dodie, I told you we are not going to get a swimming pool. You might as well quit thinking about it.“ That went in one ear and out the other. This went on for several years.
One Thanksgiving, this couple drove from Louisiana to Houston to our annual convention. The man told the usher that he wanted to see my parents—they brought him back. He said, „My name is Richard, and I build swimming pools for a living.“
My mother went over and hugged him and said, „Hello, Richard—we have been waiting for you.“
Healing Was In Route Too
He said, „I would like to build you a pool.“ My father jumped right in and said, „Oh, Richard—that is so nice, so kind—but we cannot really afford it right now, and it is really not practical.“ He said, „What do you mean you cannot afford it? I want to give you a swimming pool.“
He built this beautiful in-ground swimming pool in our backyard. The first time we went out to swim, all of us kids jumped in—my father came out the door in his swim trunks, so excited. My mother said, „John, do not even think about getting in my pool.“
Soon You’ll See What You’ve Never Seen
But here is my point: while my mother was waiting, there was no sign of it—people telling her no; she did not have the funds—but she did not get talked out of it. She kept believing it would happen.
While all these circumstances said there was no way—here is this man driving from Louisiana to give her a pool. He was already in route when my father was telling her no. He was already headed to Lakewood when it seemed impossible.
Your Breakthrough Is Coming Soon!
Do not go by what you see—you do not know what is already in route to you. When it seems the least likely, that is when God loves to show up—when the odds are against you, nothing looks possible.
Suddenly Samuel comes knocking on your door; suddenly Richard, whom you have never met, says, „God sent me here to bless you.“ I am asking you to wait with expectancy—wait knowing that God heard your request, that He set the promise in motion, that the miracle is already in route.
15 years later my mother was not believing for a swimming pool—she was believing for her life. She was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer and given a few weeks to live.
The Coming One Shows Up—Always!
I saw her have that same unshakable faith—not being talked out of what God put in her heart, that same waiting with expectancy. Deep down she knew that healing was already in route—just like Richard showed up unexpectedly, that the coming one was on His way with healing in His wings.
Four decades later my mother is still alive and healthy: the goodness of our God.
The Israelites had wandered in the desert for many years, and it did not seem like they would ever make it in. I am sure they were tired and run down—they felt stuck.
Soon—God’s About to Show Out!
But Deuteronomy 6:10–11 says this: „The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land He promised. It is filled with prosperous cities that you did not build. The houses are stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw from wells that you did not dig.“
After all this time of waiting—wondering, dealing with the heat, the opposition—God said, „You are coming into your appointed time. Soon you are going to go into a land like something you have never seen.“
Like them, you may have been waiting for a long time. You could easily settle where you are—think that it is never going to change. But you fought off the doubt; you have waited with expectancy; you have kept an attitude of faith.
God is saying to you, „Soon you are going to see your healing. Soon the right person is going to show up. Soon that new door is going to open.“ You are on the verge of seeing God do something that you have never seen.
The coming one is about to show up with blessings, with favor, with opportunity. There are things already in route to you right now that you cannot imagine.
Now do your part and keep thanking Him for what He promised—keep waiting with expectancy, keep declaring that it is on the way. If you will do this, I believe and declare: like with David, Samuel is going to come looking for you—like with my mother, healing when it seems impossible. Good breaks chasing you down, freedom, vindication, abundance—God is going to show out in your life. I believe it and declare it in Jesus’ name. And if you receive it, can you say amen?