Joel Osteen - The Miracle of Endurance

I want to talk to you today about the Miracle of Endurance. You're in the middle of a miracle, but you can't always see it: it's the miracle of endurance. One day you'll look back and think, "How did I make it through that season? How did I raise this difficult child? He should have driven me crazy. How did I not get bitter over that breakup? How did I keep going when I lost that loved one? How did I have the strength to outlast those people who were against me?"

God didn't deliver you from it, but he gave you the grace to go through it. Without his hand of protection, favor and blessing, you wouldn't be where you are. And yes, we all love the instantaneous miracles, the suddenlies, I believe in that, but it's no less of a miracle when God takes you through what should have taken you out.

Every miracle is not instantaneous. Are you in the middle of a miracle, but you don't realize it? You're not in the Promised Land yet, your child hasn't turned around, business hadn't taken off, you're still taking the treatment. God didn't deliver you from it, but he's taking you through it. He's sustaining you right now. There's a miracle taking place.

You're in the middle of a miracle! Right now God is sustaining you, there are things happening that you cannot see. He's not letting that loss keep you from your destiny, he's not letting the sickness take you out. That disappointment didn't stop your purpose. He's strengthening you, empowering you, pushing back forces of darkness.