Winning Private Battles | Joel Osteen

God bless you. It's great to be with you today And I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast our YouTube channel social media And you can come visit us in person. We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services I like to start with something funny, and I heard about this five-year-old boy named Tommy It was his grandmother's birthday and after wishing her a happy birthday. He said grandmother. How old are you? She said Tommy I'm 39 and holding he thought about it a moment said grandmother, how old would you be if you let go? All right, y'all 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 winning private battles We all have two lives. There's the life that everyone sees and then there's the life that only we see We know how to smile in public while we're hurting in private We can walk into work competently, but deep down wonder if we have what it takes We look like we have it all together, but behind closed doors. We're fighting an addiction You can be winning battles on the outside But losing battles on the inside You can be admired publicly but hurting privately What do you do when you're living with a contradiction you're projecting one thing, but you know, it's not the whole story Voices come trying to condemn you You're not who you say you are look what you're having to hide. You should be better than this But God doesn't condemn you for having contradictions He doesn't disqualify you because you don't have it all together He sees you being your best at work while you're dealing with that anxiety Being good to friends while you're fighting loneliness Loving your family while you're dealing with shame God sees what you can't show He's not faulting you. He's the one that's going to heal you He's going to help you conquer the contradictions, but the enemy would love for us to keep hiding feeling ashamed Joel if people knew who I really am They knew what I struggle with if they saw what happened to me. Can I encourage you? Everyone struggles with something the people that look like they have it all together. They have issues, too There's no shame in dealing with private battles. You don't have to go through life hiding Pretending because you have contradictions, that's not how your story ends healing is coming There was a man in the scripture named Naaman second Kings chapter 5 says he was the captain of the Syrian army a great man highly regarded a Valiant soldier through him God had given Syria great victories But notice the next phrase though. He was a mighty warrior. He suffered with leprosy You can be a mighty warrior and yet suffer with something you love God you work hard But you're dealing with depression fighting anxiety struggling with an addiction What's interesting is the leprosy didn't keep Naaman from doing his job. He covered it up. He had on a uniform gloves Nobody knew anything was wrong with him. They couldn't see his skin When he walked down the street that uniform Immediately gained him respect honor people looked in admiration thinking there's that mighty warrior He's brought us great victories Uniforms in that culture weren't just functional they symbolized authority status and strength Everywhere he went that uniform said I'm strong. I'm successful. I'm confident That's what everyone saw but underneath that uniform his skin was all diseased I can imagine him coming home after a big day winning a battle Celebrating with his men feeling so good He walks in his bedroom Unbuttons his shirt. He sees his skin all ravaged with leprosy Looks at his arms and that skin is rotting away Nobody knows what he's dealing with in private Nobody knows the battles. He's fighting behind the scenes He's winning in public, but these private battles are keeping him from enjoying the blessings How many of us are like Naaman? We have to put on our uniform each day to cover up what we're dealing with Insecurity the trauma the dysfunction and I don't mean this in a negative sense, but you're pressing through the pain Working hard despite the loneliness You have a smile despite a child that's breaking your heart You've given your best despite that addiction that you haven't been able to overcome God doesn't condemn you for having contradictions You can be chosen, but you're struggling you're gifted, but you're hurting you're successful, but insecure I love how Naaman didn't let this private battle keep him from functioning publicly Could have called in sick King I've come down with leprosy. I'm done. I got this personal problem. I got a resign No every morning despite what he saw on his skin Despite the thoughts of doubt and fear he put on that uniform. He dressed like a warrior He walked with confidence. He spoke with authority His attitude was this contradiction is not going to stop my purpose This private battle is not going to keep me from excelling in public He didn't live depressed Condemned because of something he wasn't able to overcome Some of these contradictions you didn't choose you inherited they were passed down But God has raised you up to break the negative cycle. You are the one to set a new standard There's no shame in putting on your uniform and pursuing your destiny. You could be sitting on the sidelines Nursing wounds feeling guilty. No, you're a Naaman You're winning public battles while you're dealing with private enemies a Mark of maturity is when you can put that uniform on and not live condemned and down on yourself Because you have private struggles the same God that's helping you win in public. He's going to help you win in private He sees what's limiting you He knows the secret struggles things that you've tried to overcome You want to change but you haven't been able to your time is coming He's gonna step in and help you do what you couldn't do on your own Now don't believe those lies that it's permanent. You'll never feel good about yourself Joel this is just who I am I'll always have to cover up my leprosy Hide my weakness. I'd be embarrassed if people saw what I'm really like. That's not who you are That's a temporary condition. You are a child of the Most High God hand-picked created to do great work It's significant how the scripture introduces man. It says that he was a captain a great man Respected honored who had won great victories a mighty warrior, but he was a leper notice how God listed his purpose first who he was this powerful man and what he was called to do and Then at the end it listed his weakness and he was a leper The enemy would love to reverse the order Deceive you into thinking of yourself by your weakness. Let that be the first thing on your mind I'm a leper. I'm depressed. I'm not good enough. I've got this addiction. I've made too many mistakes That's all secondary. That's what you struggle with. That's not who you are If God was introducing you today, he would say here's a mighty warrior Here's a highly favored person. Here's a masterpiece strong Confident a world changer a history maker Don't let the weakness become your identity let your purpose become your identity Hey, I'm so glad you're watching today. I hope this message is speaking to your heart If you want to stay encouraged every day I'd love to send you a short daily devotional just a few minutes each morning to help you start your day in faith in peace and In strength, you can sign up by scanning the QR code or using the link below It's completely free. Just a simple way to keep you moving forward each day. We love you, and we're praying for you There was a young Israelite girl that worked as a maid for Naaman She had been captured by the Syrians forced into slavery and assigned to Naaman's wife When Naaman came home each night and took off his uniform. She was right there to take it from him and wash it She got to see what no one else could see In public he was all covered up that uniform said strength power success But in private with no uniform she could see the leprosy He couldn't hide this dreaded disease I can imagine some of those moments were very dramatic as he took off his uniform And she saw the leprosy for the first time. It was this silence She stood there in awe thinking This man that's so powerful and influential. He's not who we think he is. He has this hidden disease He could defeat armies publicly, but he couldn't win this battle privately As he handed her the uniform that impressed so many people he had to face the condition that embarrassed him If he could keep it covered up, he's okay But now this young woman knows his hidden struggles Like Naaman, we don't want people to see what we're hiding We project confidence. We don't want them to see the insecurity We project success, but we could be hiding shame Discouragement habits that we're not proud of This young woman could have been bitter Angry, I mean this was the man that took her captive and conquered her city She had every right to say good for you Naaman you deserve it. I'm glad you're suffering This young maid is a picture of God She knew his private struggles. She knew his pain and what he was covering. She didn't judge him She didn't condemn him. She didn't go tell everyone she loved him. She had compassion and wanted to help and sometimes We try to hide our struggles not just from people but from God We know we're not measuring up. We should do better When we get it all together, then we can go to God God knows everything about you and he's not faulting you. He's not disqualifying you He's here to help you overcome It says in Psalms God knows your words before you speak them. He knows your thoughts before you think them You don't have to hide things from God Pretend you can take off your uniform. You can be real be vulnerable. He's a safe place Someone that you can trust This young maid was the opposite of Naaman. She had no influence. No authority so many things against her Number one, she was a slave no freedom. She was young no experience She was a woman in that culture women were second-class She was from the enemy army. We don't even like you but God will use unexpected people to help you People you could easily overlook discount They don't have the experience. They're not up to your level. They don't look like you too young too old Don't write off who God brings across your path May not be what you thought God used this servant girl the least one that Naaman knew not a general not a colonel not the mayor This young lady said Naaman if you will go see the Prophet in Israel He will pray for you and my God will heal you Naaman could have thought who do you think you are? Since when did you start telling me what to do? I'm a commander. You're a slave I'm respected well-known influential. Nobody knows you pride will keep you from getting free Ego will talk you out of doing what you need to do Naaman had conquered nations He'd stood before Kings and leaders But his miracle started with someone society had overlooked with the least of these God will send people to help you, but it may not be what you're thinking Will you humble yourself and be open to what God says through an unexpected voice a Neighbor, you barely know a child or someone you run into at the grocery store Naaman had to make a decision. Am I gonna stay here where it's comfortable where I've learned to manage my weakness and cover up my leprosy Or am I gonna take a step of faith and do what this young maid is asking me to do We all have these destiny moments in life We know God is asking us to take off the uniform to quit pretending to get real, but we have to make a move Maybe it's to put down our pride and ask for help Join a support group forgive someone or to quit numbing the pain through alcohol addictions eating God came that you might be free It's okay if you've had to cover things with that uniform for a season, but you don't have to cover them your whole life There is no shame in having Contradictions we all do but there is shame for going 30 years and never dealing with it. That's not your destiny Maybe my voice is the voice God is using To say not to go to the prophet like in the Old Testament But how about going directly to God call out to him for help when you get honest When you take off your uniform Say God, I don't like this leprosy that I have to cover up. I don't like this depression Putting on a smile on the outside but empty on the inside. I don't like the addiction the compromise that's dragging me down Help me do what I can't do when you ask for his help Often God will give you an assignment something you have to do a change you have to make God didn't just heal Naaman. He said you have to go see the prophet Would he listen to the least likely voice? Would he obey an unusual order to travel to an opposing country the nation? He just defeated and asked for help Naaman took this step of faith Imagine his staff loading up the animals getting the supplies and they asked where they're going He said we're going to see a prophet in Israel. I can hear them talking Why do we need to go to a prophet? Naaman's a commander? He has all this power the whole army at his disposal But some battles you can't win with physical power. It's a spiritual battle Some addictions you can't defeat with natural efforts. You're going to need supernatural strength the anxiety Depression trouble in a relationship. It may be too much for you, but it's not too much for our God. He has all power He knows what's limiting you. He sees what you're covered He's not faulting you for wearing the uniform, but that uniform is not your destiny freedom is coming Healing is coming breakthroughs are coming. God is going to help you do what you can't do on your own Naaman showed up at the Prophet Elijah's house after this long journey over a hundred miles difficult terrain Plus he is suffering with this disease Finally made it knocked on the door with his big entourage Elijah's assistant came out and Said Elisha said go wash in the Jordan River seven times and you'll be healed Close the door Naaman was offended He thought you mean I came all this way and the Prophet is not even gonna come to the door Does he know who I am? I'm a commander People stand when I walk in the room. I cancel Kings and leaders and you don't have time to see me There will always be tests before the breakthrough Are you willing to swallow your pride and do what God's asking you to do? Damn and went on to say I thought the Prophet would come out wave his hand over me and I'd be healed I don't want to wash in the Jordan that river is dirty We have cleaner rivers back home in Syria Don't let preconceived ideas keep you from your healing God may not do it the way you were thinking Naaman had to wash not just in any river, but the Jordan was dirty Sometimes what God asked you to do is not gonna make sense If you try to reason it out and figure what's appropriate what seems like a good idea Then you'll talk yourself out of it Naaman was upset. He's about to go back home One of his men said Naomi if he had asked you to do a hard thing you would do it Why don't you do this simple thing? He went and washed in the Jordan first time he came up nothing happened Second time nothing third time nothing. Don't you know thoughts of doubt and discouragement came? Naaman you look like a fool out here. You're washing in a dirty river wasting your time Don't let the enemy talk you out of what God told you to do. Keep on washing Keep on trusting keep on believing not moved by what you see But moved by what God promised you Six time nothing But on that seventh time he came up out of the water and his skin was as clear as a baby He was completely healed Now when he put that uniform on it wasn't to hide anything He didn't have anything to cover. He had conquered the Contradictions he had won the private battles. That's what God is going to help you to do You may not be hiding leprosy today, but perhaps there's something you're having to cover weaknesses Struggles things you're not proud of you seem confident, but you're having to cover insecurity You always have that smile, but you're covering the hurt and disappointment You look like you have it together, but there's that addiction you're having to cover Doesn't make you a bad person, but God didn't create you to live with contradictions. They are temporary He's going to send the right people Maybe someone that's unexpected He's going to give you an assignment Something you have to do an act of faith. It's easy to make excuses Keep putting on the uniform Covering what we don't like but that's gonna keep you from your purpose Naaman had to wash in a dirty river The healing wasn't in the water. The healing was in the obedience Don't put off what God is asking you to do winning private battles often requires doing something uncomfortable Forgiving someone asking for help changing friends turning off that computer a Pastor friend of mine was very strong minister Very effective and well respected church was growing. He'd speak at the big conferences on the outside He was successful Well like making a difference, but he said I preached great victory on Sundays But on Mondays, I was so depressed. I couldn't get out of bed He encouraged everyone else, but he felt empty on the inside Having contradictions can make us feel bad about ourselves and man. I'm a fake I'm not who people think I am But some of the great people in the Bible had contradictions Elijah called down fire from heaven one time. God sent a lightning bolt that killed 450 false prophets in an instant He was this powerful mighty man of faith, but do you know 24 hours later? Elijah was so depressed. He didn't want to live. He said God take me home. I'm done God doesn't disqualify you for having contradictions. You know what God did for Elijah. He cooked him dinner He had an angel take him water and put flour on hot coals And when Elijah woke up, he had freshly baked bread He ate that food God his strength back continued on his journey the enemy would love for you to live condemned because you have Contradictions things you have to cover you're not proud of maybe weaknesses that you inherited But being down on yourself doesn't help you to get better Living condemning. I'm not who I say I am. I'm a fake. I'm an imposter. Let's go push you further down Now I'm not saying to be okay learn to live with it. The right attitude is yes I have this area that I struggle in but it's not who I am This weakness is not my identity. I am who God says I am Like God told Naaman you were a mighty warrior a leader honorable influential Then it said Naaman had leprosy The weakness is secondary Don't let it become primary where it's the main thing you focus on it's temporary and it's coming to an end The pastor wore the uniform well every Sunday strong positive confident But underneath he was hurting One day he told a friend what he was dealing with and how he needed help that day was the turning point He brought it out into the open got into counseling good support group friends to lift him up today He's totally free and healed. He puts on that uniform now and has nothing to hide He made this statement Depression didn't break me hiding it did You weren't made to keep things covered up. It's not healthy Yes, maybe for a season, but at some point you have to deal with it get honest with yourself Be honest with God He already knows what you're covering When you go to him in humility and honesty, he doesn't condemn you. He'll help you to change It's interesting that Naaman wasn't a believer in Jehovah at that time the Syrians worshiped idols and other gods Look at how good God is Even though he wasn't a believer God had this little maid speak to him had him wash in the Jordan so he could be healed Maybe you find yourself where Naaman was you don't necessarily worship God. You don't follow Jesus This is all new to you. God is calling you today He wants to not only help you conquer the contradictions But he wants to put you on a new path to freedom to wholeness so you can fulfill your purpose Naaman was so thrilled that he was healed He went back with his whole entourage to Elijah's house to thank him this time Elijah came out He told him how grateful he was tried to give him gifts, but Elijah wouldn't take anything Naaman had one final request He said Elijah Let me load up two of my mules with dirt from the Jordan River banks and take it back home From now on whenever I worship, I'm gonna stand on that dirt and worship Jehovah the God of Israel He wasn't just changed physically, but God changed his heart Now when he put on that uniform, he had nothing to hide That's God's dream for you Are you having to cover the contradictions? Smiling but really hurting Confident but really insecure Successful outside but struggling inside God's not condemning you. He's here to free you You wouldn't be hearing this if change wasn't coming Now do your part and be willing to do what you normally wouldn't do Listen to voices that you could easily discount the little name Take steps of faith be obedient when it doesn't make sense washing in the Jordan. This is your time to be free God is breathing on you right now Chains are being broken strongholds are coming down what you couldn't do in the past I believe and declare God's about to help you do Everything that's limited you Shames you discourage you addicted you is being broken in Jesus name You will conquer every contradiction and step into the fullness of your destiny in Jesus name and if you receive it, can you say amen today? I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say Lord Jesus I repent of my sins Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior if you prayed that simple prayer We believe you got born again We'd love to send you some free information on your new walk with the Lord You can text the number on the screen or go to the website But I hope you'll get into a good Bible based church and keep God first place. I Hope the message encouraged you today such a joy to be with you It's one thing to be inspired in a moment, but it's another to stay strong in your faith every day That's why each month we create a special resource to help you stay encouraged focused and moving forward You can request this resource by scanning the QR code or using the link below. We love you guys We're praying for you. It's gonna be a blessed year. Your best days are still up in front of you