Joel Osteen - You Are Not Damaged Goods
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In this sermon, Joel Osteen encourages believers not to see themselves as «damaged goods» despite life’s dents, mistakes, and unfair situations, using the analogy of discounted canned goods and the biblical story of Ishmael to show that God brings greatness out of messes and has a divine destiny for every person.
The Damaged Goods Aisle
I want to talk to you today about how you are not damaged goods. I was in a grocery store and down one of the aisles there was a whole section called damaged goods. It was mostly canned products that had been marked down because of some kind of flaw. The can was dented. The label was torn. The color was off. The store couldn’t sell it for the full price because it had an imperfection. They were considered less valuable, inferior, damaged goods.
What’s interesting is if you bought one of those cans, you opened it up—a can of corn, a can of peas, a can of peaches—you would find there was nothing wrong with the inside. The can may have been dented but it didn’t affect the contents. The label may have been torn. On the outside it wasn’t perfect but on the inside, where it matters, there was no difference. The damaged goods peaches that were sold for half price tasted just as good as the peaches that were sold for full price. The corn, the peas, may have been labeled inferior, less than, but that was all it was—just a label.
We All Carry Some Dents
It is the same principle in life. All of us in some way have been damaged. You can’t live very long without making a mistake, being hurt by someone, going through a breakup, damaged by a divorce, damaged by an unhealthy childhood, damaged by an addiction. Too many people go around wearing the damaged goods label, feeling washed up, less than, focused on their mistakes, focused on what they have been through. No, you have got to get out of that section. That is not where you belong.
You may have been dented on the outside, but like those cans, there is nothing wrong with the inside. That setback did not affect your DNA. That loss, that disappointment, did not change who you are. That mistake, the failure, the weakness, did not stop your destiny. You may have been bruised on the outside but on the inside you still have the blood of a winner. You still have the DNA of Almighty God. You have been crowned with favor. You are full of potential, talent, creativity, wisdom. There is nothing wrong with your contents.
Who Can Stop Your Destiny?
Listen, people cannot keep you from your destiny. Bad breaks cannot stop you. Weaknesses cannot stop you. The only thing that can really stop you is you. If you wear the damaged goods label it can keep you from becoming all God has created you to be. I do not believe in giving anyone the right to feel sorry for themselves. Life happens to us all. If you get knocked down, get back up and go again. If you have a bad break, do not sit around in self-pity. Shake it off and move forward. If you make a mistake, do not go through life beating yourself up. Receive God’s mercy and do better next time.
You may have failed but you are not a failure. You may have lost but you are not a loser. You may have had unfair things happen but you are not a victim. You are a victor. Now do yourself a favor. Take off the damaged goods label. Quit thinking about your mistakes, who hurt you, what did not work out. God knows every person that has done you wrong, every disappointment, every struggle, every bad break and He has promised if you will stay in faith He will pay you back double for the unfair things that have happened.
Greatness Out of a Great Mess
I have heard it said God can bring greatness out of a great mess. Sometimes we focus on the mess, the dysfunction, the broken dream, the weakness but in all the mess God sees greatness. He knows how to take your troubles and turn them into trophies, how to take the test and make it your testimony.
This is what happened to a young boy named Ishmael. He was the child that Abraham had out of wedlock with Sarah’s maid Hagar. Ishmael was not the promised child. He was born out of Abraham and Sarah’s impatience. They got tired of waiting year after year. They knew they had a promise but it was not happening as fast as they would like. So Sarah talked her husband Abraham into sleeping with her maid Hagar and they had this little baby boy named Ishmael.
Ishmael was born into a dysfunctional home. He was born into distrust, confusion, chaos. He would have been considered damaged goods, a mistake, not the right one. The funny thing is it was Sarah’s idea but she got mad at Abraham for having a baby with another woman. Sarah turned on Hagar, her once trusted maid, and now she could not stand the woman. She told Abraham, «You better get your mistress and her son out of my life really, really fast.» You are talking about a messed up situation. They were in a love triangle and they were all living in the same house.
Drama in the Father of Faith’s Home
You think there is drama in your home? You should have been in Abraham’s home. And he is called the father of our faith. That gives me hope for my own family. It got so bad that Sarah gave Abraham an ultimatum, «Either your mistress and her son leave or I am out of here.» Abraham ended up sending Hagar and his son Ishmael out into the desert.
Now think about Ishmael. He is the innocent one in this whole ordeal. He did not get to choose who his parents would be. He did not choose what family he would be born into. He did not do anything wrong. He just showed up and life threw him out into the cold. He could have had a chip on his shoulder, thought, «God, this is not fair. Why was I born into this mess? Why is my mother a mistress? Why could I not be Isaac, the promised child and stay here with my family?» He had all these disadvantages. He could have seen himself as damaged goods and just faded off into the sunset.
But here is the mercy of God. God said in Genesis 21, «I will bring out of Ishmael a great nation.» We know God did great things with Isaac but we do not always realize God did something great with Ishmael. God was saying, «This child that has been born into dysfunction, this child that has had bad breaks, been put at a disadvantage, seen as damaged goods, I have not written him off. He is not a mistake. I still have a plan. I am going to bring greatness out of this great mess.»
God Has a Plan for Your Mess
You may be in a situation now that feels dysfunctional, seems like a mess—in your family, your health, your finances, your career. You do not see how any good could ever come out of it. But if Ishmael were standing here today he would say, «Hey, let me tell you firsthand. God still has a plan. It does not matter how you were raised, how many bad breaks you have had, how insignificant you may feel—no dysfunction, no injustice, no disappointment can keep you from your destiny.» God can bring greatness out of a great mess.
Most of the time we see Ishmael as a mistake, an accident. Sarah and Abraham did not wait for the promised child. But the truth is no baby is a mistake. A child cannot be born without God breathing life into their lungs. We hear parents say, «We were not expecting this baby. They were a surprise.» And yes, they may have been a surprise to you but they were not a surprise to the Giver of Life. In God’s eyes, there is no such thing as an unwanted pregnancy. You did not just happen to show up on planet earth. God had a plan for you long before you arrived.
God told Jeremiah, «Before you were formed in your mother’s womb I knew you and called you to be a prophet to the nations.» God already had an assignment for him before he got here. God was saying, «Jeremiah, you did not start when your mother gave birth to you. Before you were formed you were with Me.»
You Came From God, Not Through People
In other words, our past did not start with our family. It started with our God. I did not come from my mother—and I love and honor my mother—but I did not come from her. I came through her. I came from Almighty God. That means your destiny, your assignment, your purpose, cannot be messed up by who you came through. You came from the Most High God. He has the ultimate say.
In 1943, a teenager here in Houston became pregnant from a forced violent act. The young lady was distraught and confused. She planned on aborting the child but some friends talked her into having the baby and putting it up for adoption. The little boy was born at the charity ward at Saint Joseph’s Hospital. He grew up in extreme poverty. His father was an alcoholic. More than once he threatened to kill his mother.
Like Ishmael, this little boy could have been seen as damaged goods, a mistake, no future to speak of. But God does not give life to someone without giving them a divine destiny. With the help of some loving foster parents this little boy grew up to become one of the greatest ministers of our time. Today, over 70 years later, our friend James Robison has made a difference in people’s lives around the world.
You Are Not an Accident
What am I saying? What looked like a mistake was not a mistake at all. If you are breathing today—and I believe you are—you are not an accident. No matter how functional or dysfunctional your situation is, God has a destiny for you to fulfill.
You may have had a negative past but you do not have to have a negative future. This is a new day. And if you will take off the damaged goods label, get rid of the victim mentality and have a victor mentality, God will take what was meant for harm and He will use it for your good.
I love the fact that with Ishmael God brought something significant out of a child that was considered insignificant. That tells me you do not have to come from the most influential family. You do not have to have a perfect upbringing. The truth is there is dysfunction in every family. I would love to tell you that our family is perfect but then my brother Paul came along. I heard somebody say, «Our family put the func in dysfunction.»
Don’t Let Heredity Stop Destiny
But here is the key—seriously. Do not let your heredity stop your destiny. Do not let how you were raised, what your parents did or did not give you, how somebody treated you set the limits for your life. They may have put you at a disadvantage but you do not have to stay at a disadvantage.
I know people 60 years old still talking about what momma did not give them and how daddy was not there. I am not making light of that because those can be real hurts but talking about it is not going to make it any better. Having a «poor old me» damaged goods mentality is not going to help. You have got to take the hand you have been dealt and make the most of it.
Your situation most likely is no worse than Ishmael’s. He had all kinds of disadvantages—kicked out of his home, seen as a mistake—yet God brought a great nation out of him. If you will remove the damaged goods label, shake off the self-pity, move forward in faith, God will make something significant out of your life. You will leave your mark on this generation.
A Story of Overcoming Dysfunction
I read about a young lady. She was born into a dysfunctional home. She was neglected, abused, never had any kind of stability. It got so bad, as a little girl, she asked the authorities at school to be removed from her home. The judge placed her in foster care. Several months later she was adopted by a single parent mother living in a small community dedicated to helping foster care children. She began to thrive in school, became an honor student, someone that the other young ladies looked up to.
One day she was invited along with the other people that ran the foster care community to be a guest on a national television talk show. The host asked the young ladies what their hopes and dreams were. She said, «My dream is to one day go to Harvard University, get a good education, so I can help other people like those that have helped me.»
A few days later she received a phone call from out of state. The lady said, «I saw you on the talk show. I have a question for you. Would you consider a scholarship to Yale University instead of Harvard?» She said, «I think I would.» She went on to graduate from Yale and today is doing great things. Do not let your heredity stop your destiny. God can bring greatness out of a great mess.
Reject the Accusing Voices
I wonder how many of us would rise to a new level if we would quit blaming the past, how we were raised, what somebody said—if we would take off the damaged goods label we would see God’s favor in a new way. I have found there is always something to try to make us feel badly about ourselves. It is because the enemy is called the accuser of the brethren. He will remind you of every mistake you have made, every unfair situation, every negative comment about you. He would love for you to go through life feeling damaged, guilty, less than.
You have got to put your foot down and say, «No, I am not falling into that trap. I am not bitter because of what happened. I am not dwelling on their negative comments. I am not beating myself up over past mistakes. I am going to keep that label off and move forward with my life.»
When I was growing up I played baseball all through little league and junior high. I was a second baseman. I was pretty good. I always made the all-star team. Like most little leaguers my dream was to one day play professional baseball. But when I got in high school it was a whole new level of talent. I was very small. I grew six inches after high school. I tried out for the baseball team along with 150 other young men for less than 20 spots. I gave it my best.
Too Small? God Says Otherwise
The coach called us all into the gym to announce who made the team. My name was not called. I was so disappointed. The coach told me afterwards, «Joel, I would love to have you on the team. You are just too little.» And he did not mean anything by it because I was small but I took it the wrong way.
Week after week, month after month, that phrase would play in my mind, «You heard the coach, Joel. You are too small. You do not measure up. You are not good enough. There is something wrong with you.» Negative voices will always play the loudest.
If you do not take control of your thought life every hurt, every critic, every derogatory comment will play again and again. I was tempted to let the damaged goods label stick, feel inferior, insecure. I had to keep reminding myself, «People may have said that I am too small but God says I am fearfully and wonderfully made.» «People may have said I am not good enough but God says I am a masterpiece. People may have rejected me but I know God accepts me.»
First Peter 2 says, «You have been chosen by God Himself.» One translation says, «He has hand-picked you.» That means you were not randomly selected. God on purpose said, «I choose him. I choose her. That is who I want to be on My team.» People may tell you you do not measure up. You are not tall enough, smart enough, talented enough, creative enough. Let it go in one ear and out the other. You are not who people say you are. You are who God says you are.
Hand-Picked by God
God says you are just the right size. You are one of a kind, equipped, empowered, valuable. Our attitude should be, «I may not have been chosen by the coach, the teacher, the friend, the supervisor, the boss. But that is okay. I know the One who matters most, the One who controls the universe, the One who spoke worlds into existence has hand-picked me. I have been chosen by the Most High God.»
Friends, God has the final say. If you will stay in faith He will get you to where He wants you to be. My dream of playing professional baseball may not have worked out but do you know some 30 years later I stood at second base at Yankee Stadium. It was not playing baseball. We were having a Night of Hope but I still liked that too. It would have never happened if I had worn the damaged goods label.
As long as we feel less than, inferior, washed up, it will keep you from the amazing things God has in store. And sometimes we feel damaged, not because of how we were raised or what somebody said but because of our own mistakes, our own weaknesses, our own shortcomings. We think, «Oh, Joel. I cannot expect anything good. God would never use me. You do not know what I have done.» But if that were the case, if God could only use you if you did not have any negative baggage then none of us would have had a chance.
Peter’s Restoration
Think about Peter, one of the disciples. He was hot-tempered. He used bad language. He denied he knew Christ three times. When Jesus needed him the most, he turned his back and said, «No, I do not even know the man.» Surely Jesus would say, «Fine, Peter. If you turn your back on Me then I am done with you. You had your chance. You are damaged goods.» No, God never writes anybody off. And Jesus, when He arose from the grave, an angel appeared to Mary at the tomb and said, «Mary, Jesus has risen. Now go tell His disciples. And Mary, make sure that you tell Peter.»
The only one God specifically called out at that historic time was Peter. Why? God knew the accuser would work overtime trying to stick that damaged goods label on Peter. If he had worn it, he would have never fulfilled his destiny. So God specifically called his name.
Like Peter, you may have made mistakes. Blown it. Failed. You are not expecting anything good. Imagine right now God is specifically calling your name. Saying, «Tell James. Tell Susan. Tell Maria. I have already forgiven you. My mercy is bigger than that mistake. I have got a destiny for you to fulfill.»
Now you have got to shake off the guilt. Quit living condemned. Take off the damaged goods label. You would not be alive unless God had something amazing in your future. If you were truly damaged goods, unusable, God would have taken you on home.
A Comeback Story: My Father
God has a purpose for you. Your assignment is too important. Your destiny too great. Your time too valuable to live another moment thinking that you are damaged goods. Shake it off and move forward into the bright future God has in store.
This is what my father had to do. Daddy was married at a very early age. It was not a good choice. The marriage did not last. He was devastated. He thought his ministry was over. He did not think he would ever have a family. And unfortunately, some of the people in his life were not very merciful. They told him, «You are not welcome in our church. You had your chance but you blew it.» They stuck the damaged goods label on my father. Washed up. Unusable.
Daddy did not know any better. He ended up resigning from the church and started selling insurance. And sometimes your own thoughts will accuse you. Other times the enemy will use people to accuse you. They will tell you all the reasons you could never become what you were created to be. Do not believe those lies. God knew every mistake you would ever make. And He has already arranged a comeback.
And when you are tempted—and we all are—to look down on people, find fault, be critical, you need to realize where that is coming from. That is the accuser’s influence. Jesus always lifted the fallen, restored the broken, showed mercy to those that had failed.
For several years my father lived depressed, defeated, no passion. One day he realized what I am telling you. You do not have to wear the damaged goods label. You may have made poor choices, gone through failures. But our God is the God of another chance. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. His calling will never leave your life.
Now quit listening to the accusing voices. Quit letting people make you feel washed up. They do not determine your destiny—God does. My father got back in the ministry. He went on to pastor churches for over 50 years. He was married to my mother for over 44 years. He saw God restore him and do amazing things. God can do the same thing for each one of us.
The Potter and the Clay
The scripture talks about how Jeremiah went down to the potter’s house. And he was watching this potter working at the wheel, spinning around this clay pot, this vessel again and again. At one point it says, «The vessel became marred in the potter’s hands.» That means it was broken, it had flaws, defects. But the potter did not throw it into the damaged goods pile and say, «Too bad. I have got to get something better to work with. This is not usable.» No, it says, «The potter began to remake the vessel once again.» And when it was all said and done, it came out stronger, more beautiful than it was before.
The potter, of course, represents God. We are the clay. All of us have flaws and weaknesses. We go through failures, disappointments, unfair situations. At times it is like we end up broken, hurt, disappointed. But that is not the end of your story. If you will stay in faith and not get bitter, not get down on yourself, God will take your broken pieces, your hurts, the weaknesses, the unfair situations and He will use them to not just put you back together but He will make you into something better, stronger, more beautiful than if it had not happened.
I have heard it said like this: any chef can cook something good when they have good ingredients, a good oven, good recipes, good tools—that is easy. But it takes a master chef to take ingredients that are not perfect, ingredients that are bitter, sour, and still make something good out of it. That is the way God is. He is not just a chef—He is a master chef. He can take any ingredient that you give Him—anything you have been through, your hurts, the disappointments, the unfair situation—and mix them together and still make something out of your life more than you ever dreamed of.
Why do not you take off the damaged goods label? You are not working with an ordinary chef. You are working with the Master Chef, the Creator of the universe. At times in life you may get dented but you have got to remember, just like those cans, there is nothing wrong on the inside. You are still a child of the Most High God filled with possibility. Now do your part—shake off the guilt, quit listening to the accusing voices and move forward with your life. If you do this, I believe and declare God will bring greatness out of a great mess. Like Ishmael, He will make something significant out of your life. Like with my father, God will not only restore you but He will bring you out better off than you were before. In Jesus' name.