Joel Osteen - Mountains Turned to Molehills
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I want to talk to you today about «Mountains Turn to Molehills.» We’ve all heard the phrase «Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.» That’s someone overreacting and making a big deal out of something small. But there are times in life when we face mountains. The doctor’s report comes back and says that it’s not good. We get a call from the school, and our child is in trouble again or has fallen back into an addiction. The big contract we were counting on didn’t go through. These are true mountains and obstacles that look insurmountable—challenges we don’t see a way out of. It’s easy to get discouraged, live worried, and give up on dreams.
That’s the way Zerubbabel felt in the scripture. He was facing an impossible situation. But listen to what the prophet Zechariah said to him: «Who are you, O great mountain, that stands before Zerubbabel? You shall become a plain, a mere molehill, and he will finish the temple.» God is in the business of turning mountains into molehills. He can flatten out what looks impossible in your life. Those things that are blocking your health, keeping you from your dream, or stopping your children look like they’re permanent. It’s a mountain too big, too strong.
It may be too much for you, but it’s not too much for our God. He knows how to level the ground so that what used to stop you is now something you walk over. What you thought was permanent is no longer there. Don’t be intimidated by the mountain. Don’t believe those lies that say it’s never going to change, never get well, never break the addiction, never meet the right person. No, God is at work in your life right now. There is no mountain He can’t bring down, no sickness He can’t heal, no child He can’t turn around. One touch of His favor, and the high thing becomes low. What looked impossible somehow turns around. You can’t explain it; it doesn’t make sense. That’s God turning mountains into molehills, flattening out what’s blocking your destiny.
Now, here’s the key: Don’t talk to God about how big your mountain is. Talk to your mountain about how big your God is. «Mountain, you cannot stay in my life. You cannot stop my purpose. You may look insurmountable, but I know a secret: My God is a mountain mover. My God’s going to turn you into a plain. When it’s all said and done, I will walk right over you.» You have to stir your faith up. We don’t serve a weak God, a limited God. We serve the Creator of the universe, the God who flung stars into space, and the God who chose you before you could choose Him. He knew we would face mountains, have things come against us that look too big. He didn’t leave us on our own; He said, «I will turn mountains into plains, and I will bring high things low.» God is fighting for you. He sees what you’re going through; He knows what you’re up against—the treatment, the lonely nights, the child that’s breaking your heart. It seems like you’re stuck. No, your time is coming! God is saying to you what He said to Zerubbabel: «Every mountain shall be brought down; every high thing will be flattened out.» What God started in your life, He will finish.
God gave Zerubbabel this dream to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. He was living in exile in Babylon with the Israelites, and the king of Persia allowed them to go back home. Zerubbabel was excited, and he got others involved, and they started building. Well, it wasn’t long before they faced opposition. The local people were upset, and they didn’t want Zerubbabel there. They turned hostile and caused him all kinds of trouble. They went to the city leaders and said he was trying to lead a rebellion and was going to overthrow the government. They convinced the politicians to make a legal decree ordering the construction to stop. Now, no more work could continue. It was not only people coming against them, but now they had this law that they couldn’t rebuild. It looked permanent, like it could never change.
And of course, Zerubbabel and all his people were discouraged. They had laid the foundation; they had gotten started, but now construction came to a halt. For years, no work was done. I can imagine Zerubbabel sometimes at night going out by the temple site and seeing the materials piled up and the lumber starting to rot, the place in disarray. Thoughts whispered, «You didn’t hear from God. He didn’t tell you to rebuild this. You made this up. You’re a failure.» When you face mountains and go through things that don’t work out, the enemy loves to whisper thoughts of shame, guilt, and doubt. «God didn’t promise you’d get well. This is going to be the end. You should have known your business wouldn’t make it. You don’t have what it takes. You’ll never meet the right person. You’re not attractive enough.» No! Just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. Just because you had setbacks and people came against you, and the medical report didn’t get better, now that mountain looks bigger than ever—no! What God started, He’s going to finish.
Isaiah 40 says, «The hills will become a plain; the rough country will become smooth. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all the people will see it.» That mountain you’re facing is setting you up for God to show out in your life. When the hills become a plain, the glory of the Lord will be revealed. God is going to make you an example of His goodness. When He turns the mountain into a molehill, everyone will know His favor is on your life.
Now, sometimes God will let us face mountains so other people will see His power. Can God trust you with the mountain? Can He count on you to stay in faith and keep believing? It’s easy to get sour and bitter. «God, why didn’t this work out?» Zerubbabel could have said, «God, I was doing my best. Why did these people come against me? Why did they make this ruling?» Looked like he had failed, like he was done. But it’s not over until God says it’s over. You don’t know what God is up to. When you face obstacles and things that look permanent, that’s a test. Are you going to get discouraged and give up on what God promised, or are you going to keep believing and keep thanking God, knowing that He is positioning you for His glory to be revealed?
When you see what God was up to, you’ll not only be amazed, but other people won’t be able to deny the blessing of God on your life. This couple I know became pregnant with triplets 17 years ago. They were so excited. They had never been able to have children, and now their dream finally came true. But the mother had complications during the pregnancy, and the babies were born months prematurely and hardly weighed anything. The doctors didn’t know if they were going to make it. It was day by day, and of course, the parents were hoping, praying, believing. For six months, the babies were in the neonatal intensive care unit in critical condition, all these tubes feeding them, trying to get them strong and developed. By the grace of God, they all survived. And today, they’re 16 years old, healthy and whole. I saw them last week in the lobby. Well, this couple had insurance but not enough to cover all the hospital costs. They received a bill for $2 million. They didn’t have those resources. It looked like they’d be paying on this for the rest of their life—a mountain of debt.
But instead of being discouraged and thinking it could never work out, they just kept thanking God that He was fighting their battles, that He was supplying their needs, that He could turn mountains into molehills. At Christmas time, they received a letter from the hospital saying, «We’ve never done this before, but we’ve decided to forgive the $2 million debt and to pay you back for all the payments that you’ve already made.» The scripture says, «Is there anything too hard for the Lord?» Now, I know none of us like obstacles, but how do you know, like Isaiah said, that that mountain is not there to reveal the glory of God through you? When He flattens out your high places, when He heals you from the sickness, frees you from the addiction, turns your child around, people will see the goodness of God. He wants to make you an example. Don’t get discouraged by the mountain, complain about the obstacle. Have a new perspective. That mountain is setting you up for God to do something unusual, out of the ordinary, so His glory will be seen through you. Sure, the enemy meant the mountain to block you, but God’s going to turn it around and cause it to promote you.
That’s what happened with my mother. She faced a mountain of cancer. The doctor said it was terminal. «You can’t move this mountain; it’s permanent.» But my mother never talked about how big the mountain was. She always talked about how big our God is. All through the day, «Lord, thank you that you’re restoring health to me. Father, thank you that I will live and not die.» There was no way in the natural. But our God is supernatural. He took that mountain that looked permanent, looked impossible, no way out medically speaking, and He turned it into a molehill. She was perfectly healthy and whole. For 40 years, God showed His glory through my mother. She told everyone what happened. She’s constantly praying for people, letting them know, «If God did it for me, He can do it for you.»
When we were trying to acquire this place, the former compact center, we faced a mountain. The company that was up against us was the largest taxpayer in Texas. They were huge and seemed insurmountable. They had all this money and influence and connections. We didn’t see how it could happen. It looked impossible, but we had a little bit of faith. The scripture says, «If you have faith the size of a mustard seed—that’s one of the smallest seeds—then you can see mountains move.» You don’t have to have great faith. You don’t have to know all the scriptures and have it all figured out. If you just have a little faith—"God, I don’t see a way, but I know You have a way. God, this looks impossible to me, but I know You can still do it.» That’s all God needs to work with.
We kept believing, declaring, and thanking God. Through a series of supernatural events, things fell into place. God changed the city council member’s mind, and here we are today. He turned a mountain into a molehill. He brought down the high places that were blocking our purpose. For the last 20 years, we’ve been in this building; the glory of God has been revealed through us. He has shined brightly. Now, you may be facing a mountain today—your health, your finances, your dreams. It seems like you’re stuck. There’s no way around it. But like Isaiah said, God didn’t allow the mountain to stop you but to display His glory, His favor, His healing. Don’t give up on what He put in your heart. Don’t let the lies convince you that it’s too big, too strong, or too late. It could never happen now.
Can I encourage you? It’s about to become a molehill. You wouldn’t be hearing this if God wasn’t about to flatten out some impossibilities in your life. He’s about to bring high things low. Why don’t you get in agreement with Him? All you need is just mustard-seed faith—a little bit of faith. That’s what moves mountains. «Lord, I believe You can heal me from this sickness. I believe my child is turning around. That You have beauty for these ashes. That my dreams are still coming to pass.» Well, 16 years, the temple sat there in ruins—nothing but a foundation. Zerubbabel thought it was too late. He had done his best; it didn’t work out. But God doesn’t abort dreams. You may have given up, but God still has every intention of bringing it to pass.
The prophet Zechariah showed up and said, «Zerubbabel, it’s time to get going.» That’s where he made this statement: «God’s going to turn this mountain into a molehill, and you will finish the temple.» That breathed new life into Zerubbabel. He called his men together, and they started working, and four years later, they finished the temple. If Zerubbabel were here today, he would tell you, «Don’t let the mountain fool you. Don’t let the sickness, the debt, the trouble convince you that it’s not going to happen. God is fighting for you. He’s going to level the mountain. He’s going to move the wrong people. He’s going to turn the sickness around. He’s going to open the right doors.»
I love the way Zechariah said it: «Who are you, O great mountain, to stand before Zerubbabel?» He was saying, in effect: «Who are you, cancer, to think you can stand against God’s people? Who are you, lack, struggle, and inability to think you can stop what God has purposed? Who are you, bad breaks, betrayals, and closed doors to think you can hinder our destiny?» He didn’t say, «I hope something works out. I hope things turn around.» No! He said, «You shall be leveled. You shall be flattened out.» That mountain that used to block you, you’re going to walk on top of it. That sickness that held you back, the financial difficulty, the child that won’t do what’s right—it’s not just going to get a little better, Joel. It’s not just going to be «quite as bad.» It’s going to be completely flattened, totally smooth—no sign of it.
I saw where there was a mountain that’s 29,000 feet high. A typical molehill is 2 inches tall. When we think of this comparison, it doesn’t seem possible, this huge mountain coming down to 2 inches. God is saying, «I’m going to do things that don’t make sense, that you can’t comprehend, out of the ordinary.» You didn’t see any way, but God is going to show up and flatten what looks impossible in your life. Now, if Zechariah had not come and spoken faith into Zerubbabel and reminded him of what God can do, he would have never restarted rebuilding the temple. Sometimes you need people to speak faith into you. Maybe you’re up against a big mountain that’s been there a long time, and you’ve accepted that it’s never going to change. But God sent me to stir your faith to let you know, it’s not permanent. Yes, it looks big. It’s been a long time. You don’t see how, but you don’t have to see how. All you have to do is believe.
When you believe, the creator of the universe goes to work. Angels are dispatched; miracles are set into motion. There’s a young man that attends here, and his dream was to become a physician. He graduated from college with honors. He applied to 40 medical schools, but only three contacted him back, and unfortunately, he was turned down and had no offers. He was disappointed; he’d worked so hard. This is what he had always wanted to do. But you have to go through your closed doors before you get to your open doors. The mistake we make sometimes is we give up too soon. «It didn’t work out, Joel. It’s not fair. I don’t understand it.»
This young man, instead of being discouraged, instead of complaining, he kept thanking God for what He promised and declaring favor over his future. «Lord, I thank You that You’re opening doors that no man can shut, that Your favor is causing me to stand out, that what You purposed for my life will come to pass.» When you’re facing mountain situations that look permanent, it’s important what you’re saying. Are you talking about how big the mountain is, or are you talking about how big your God is? Are you saying, like Zechariah, «Mountain, you will become a molehill. You can’t stop my destiny; I’m God’s property»? Or are you saying, «Joel, I don’t know. The medical report’s not good. Everyone in my family has struggles. I’ve had this addiction for a long time.» No! Those mountains are not there to stop you but so God can show His glory through you. He wouldn’t have allowed it if He’s going to keep you from your destiny.
It’s a test. Be strong. Be of good courage. What God started, He’s going to finish. This young man attended a seminar for students wanting to get into medical school. One of the options they mentioned was working for the armed services. When he heard that, something ignited inside. He talked to a gentleman there who took great interest in him and put in a good word for him. He received the news that he was accepted into the armed forces medical school. He would not only receive a full scholarship and not have any cost for his medical education, but he’d be paid a substantial salary while he attended school. He never dreamed he could become a physician and have no debt. It looked like that mountain was blocking his purpose, but God turned it into a molehill.
There may be mountains trying to block you today: closed doors, sickness, debt. You don’t see how it can change. It looks too big, too strong, insurmountable. On your own, you can’t change it. But listen to what God said in Jeremiah: «Look, O mighty mountain; I am your enemy,» says the Lord. «I will raise my fist against you to knock you down from the heights. When I am finished, you will be nothing but a heap of rubble.» God is saying to the sickness, the addiction, the closed doors, «I am your enemy.» Because you belong to the Most High, He is an enemy to what opposes you. Imagine God with His fist clenched against that cancer that’s trying to stop you; His fist clenched against the depression and anxiety that looks permanent; or clenched against the addiction, against the people that are doing you wrong. You’re not fighting on your own. God is about to deliver the knockout punch.
When He is finished, those mountains will be nothing but a heap of rubble. Just ask David. He faced a mountain that looked impossible—this huge giant who was defying the armies of the living God, making fun of God’s people, stopping their purpose. They were all running in fear. Not David. He stepped up with that slingshot and delivered the knockout punch. That high thing was brought low—the giant lying on the ground. You may have some big obstacles, but our God has a big punch. He’s about to knock out the things that have been holding you back. Knock out the fear. Knock out the heart trouble. Knock out the strife that’s tearing your family apart. Knock out those people that are doing you wrong. You don’t have to fight; let God do it. He has His fist raised against the high things that are holding you back.
When people and circumstances come against you and try to stop your purpose, keep in mind they’re not just coming against you; they’re coming against God. He becomes their enemy. He said, «O great mountain, I am your enemy. I will knock you from the heights and bring you down to rubble.» When you understand this, you can stay in peace. You don’t have to try to fight, defend, and fix everything on your own. You have a protector. You have a defender. God will be the enemy to your enemies. He will bring every high thing low. Those obstacles blocking your path, He will turn them into rubble so you can keep moving into your destiny.
There’s a man in the scripture named Saul. He was a devout Pharisee and committed to the Jewish law. Well, he saw the followers of Jesus as going against what he believed, and he tried his best to get rid of them. He was the biggest enemy of the church. Acts nine says Saul was breathing threats and murder against the disciples. He wasn’t playing around. He was standing there giving his approval when Stephen was stoned to death. He went to the officials and got legal permission to arrest believers and have them put in jail. One day, he was on the road to Damascus on this mission to persecute believers. But while he was traveling, a bright light shined down from heaven, knocked him off his horse, and he fell to the ground. He was blind; he couldn’t see. A voice boomed out, «Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?» He was puzzled and said, «Who are you?» The voice responded, «I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.»
What’s significant is Saul had never met Jesus. He thought he was going after the disciples. But when people persecute you, really they’re persecuting Him. Because you belong to Christ, God takes it personally. He becomes an enemy to those who attack you. He feels every wrong, every injustice, every hurt. There will be a time when He delivers a knockout punch. You don’t have to do it; His reputation is on the line. He knows how to defend Himself, how to bring every high thing low.
See, Saul was a mountain. He was blocking the church from moving forward. He had everybody on the run, hiding, living in fear. But God’s fist is clenched against your enemies. God delivered the knockout punch. Saul fell off his high horse and came to the ground. That day was a turning point. Saul became a follower of Christ. He went on to become the apostle Paul, who wrote half of the books in the New Testament. The greatest enemy of the church became the greatest ally of the church. God knows how to knock out what’s trying to stop you. It may be a Goliath, a person, or perhaps a sickness, or debt, or trouble. I can imagine right now God rolling up His sleeves, clenching His fist. «You’ve stood strong. You’ve been faithful. Now here comes the knockout punch—knocking out the sickness, knocking out the dysfunction, knocking out the debt, knocking out the people, moving the wrong ones out of your path, making a way—not where you have to go way around that obstacle. You can get there in a year or two.»
No! God’s about to turn the mountain into a molehill. He’s going to flatten out what looks impossible so you can go straight to your destiny. Now give Him something to work with—just mustard-seed faith. A little bit of faith can move mountains—not complaining, not talking about how bad it is, but how about talking about how great our God is? He’s an enemy to your enemies. You can stay in peace. You can live from a place of trust, knowing that no mountain can stand against you and that every high thing is being brought low. God didn’t bring you this far to leave you.
And I know, like Zerubbabel, you may have had some delays and people did you wrong, and it hasn’t worked out. But what God started in your life, He’s going to finish. It’s time to try it again. If you’ll do this, I believe-declare-God’s about to deliver some knockout punches. He’s going to flatten out everything hindering you. Every mountain will turn to a molehill. Healing is coming. Freedom is coming. Favor is coming. The fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say amen?