Grass In The Desert | Joel Osteen
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hi, it's Joel and Victoria. What a joy to be with you today. We always count it an honor to know that we're praying for you and your family.
We sure hope you enjoy this podcast today. And we just are praying for you and know that God is for you. So enjoy today's message.
God bless you. It's great to have you with us today. I know God has amazing things in your future. And I hope you'll stay connected with us through the week. We have a daily podcast that you can download or go to our YouTube channel, follow us on social media. We wanna keep you encouraged and inspired. But thanks for tuning in today. I like to start with something funny and I heard about this young man. One day he was talking to God. He said, God, what's a million years like to you? God said, a million years to me is like one second to you. He said, well, God, what's a million dollars like to you? God said, a million dollars to me is like one penny to you. He thought about it a moment and said, God, will you give me a penny?
God said, sure, just a second. Come on, say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today, I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be the same in Jesus name. God bless you. I want to talk to you today about grass in the desert. Mark chapter six, Jesus was with his disciples and so many people were crowding around. He told them to get in the boat so they could have some time alone. Verse 32 says, they departed to a desert place. People saw where they were heading. When they arrived, there were thousands of people waiting for them. Jesus began to teach them. Late in the day, the disciples said, Jesus, it's almost night.
We're out here in the desert. There's nothing to eat. Send the people home. Jesus said, you feed them. They said, with what? We're in the desert. We don't have food for all these people. Jesus asked them for what they had. They gave him two fish and five loaves of bread. Verse 39 says, Jesus told the crowd to sit down in groups on the green grass. Three times in this passage, it says they were in a desert place. Now he's telling them to sit on green grass. The people were tired, hot, hungry. Jesus hadn't multiplied the food yet. They hadn't received the miracle. But while they were waiting, God gave them grass in the desert. He made the hard places easier. He didn't stop them from going into the desert. He didn't keep them from the heat, but he did lighten the load.
We all go through desert places in life, problems that should overwhelm us, giants that should defeat us, bad breaks that should make us bitter. But somehow in the midst of these challenges, there's a force sustaining us. We feel strength that we didn't have, courage to keep moving forward, grace to endure. We look back and think, how did I make it through the loss of my loved one? How did I overcome that sickness? How did I raise that child that was so difficult? It was God giving you grass in the desert. God making the hard places easier. Without his grace, we would have gone under. Without his favor, that sickness would have defeated you. Without him breathing in your direction, you wouldn't have made it through that breakup.
He didn't stop the trouble, but he did keep the trouble from stopping you. You could have fallen apart. You could have had a nervous breakdown, gotten bitter, but God gave you green grass in the desert. He sustained you. When you could have been overwhelmed, he stepped in and lightened the load. That's why that person showed up at just the right time to help you. It wasn't a lucky break. It was grass in the desert. That's why you had the strength to take that treatment when you should have been discouraged, worn out. It was grass in the desert. That's why this pandemic hasn't defeated you. You could be stressed out, not able to make it, but there's grass in the desert. God hasn't changed it all yet. You haven't seen the promise come to pass.
You're still believing for the healing, the promotion, the spouse.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–4:28
2
What is the 'grass in the desert' metaphor and why does Joel introduce it?
4:28–4:58
3
How does the feeding of the 5,000 illustrate God providing in hard seasons?
4:58–9:06
4
How can God 'make hard places easier' even when problems don't disappear?
9:06–14:23
5
What examples of personal endurance show 'grass in the desert' at work?
14:23–20:14
6
How did Joseph's story model faithfulness and strength in a desert season?
20:14–29:46