God Will Give You a Sign by Joel Osteen

When my mother was sick in 1981 with terminal cancer, it didn’t look like she was going to make it. We had been praying and believing week after week, but she wasn’t getting any better. My father needed encouragement and hope, and he prayed to God saying, “God, send me a sign of Your favor.” One night we got home from church and my father went to his bedroom to change clothes. He put his Bible on the bed, and it just so happened to fall open in the middle. He didn’t think anything about it. But as he was hanging his coat up on the hanger, for some reason, he felt drawn to the Bible. As he was watching, the pages began to flip and flip and flip, just like someone was intentionally turning them. He thought, “That’s odd. The air conditioner wasn’t on. There wasn’t a fan.” He went over there and one of the pages was sort of half-way flipped up on the other. The first verse that he saw, the one that totally stuck out was Psalm 105:37. It says, “God brought them out with silver and gold, and there was not one sickly person among them.” When he read that, it was like electricity shot through His whole body. He knew God was saying my mother was going to come out healthy and whole.

Month after month went by. We didn’t see any signs of improvement. But instead of getting discouraged, we would always go back and remember that night that God turned the pages in the Bible. That was a sign from God to my father confirming those promises that we were standing on. I don’t know if it was the air conditioner or a natural gust of air, but whatever caused it, we knew ultimately that it was the hand of God speaking faith to our hearts. We chose to believe that it was God confirming His word. That was nearly 30 years ago. Today, my mother is still healthy and strong and going 90 miles an hour every single day.

The scripture talks about how God will confirm His Word with signs following. We often think that just means when someone ministers that there will be salvation, healing and miracles. And yes, that’s true. But it also means when God puts a promise in your heart, He will confirm that promise by showing you some kind of sign that the promise is going to come to pass, something to boost your faith and encourage you. In Mark 16:20, when the disciples went out to do the work of the Lord, He confirmed His word with signs following. These signs encouraged the disciples to keep doing what they were doing. It helped them press through the hard times! That’s what God did for my father and wants to do the same for you if you’ll be sensitive to notice. It may be something small. It may be through a dream, another person, nature, His Word, or even something that seems like a coincidence. It looks insignificant to others; but to you, it’s God saying, “I’m in control. I’m directing your steps.” A friend might make one comment. They don’t even realize it, but it’s exactly what you needed to hear. Something lights up on the inside. That’s a sign from God. You know God is in control. You know He is fighting your battles. That’s a sign from God.

It’s important that we recognize these signs. That’s what is going to help keep us encouraged while we’re waiting for the promise to come to pass. When we’re tempted to get down, we can go back and say, “No. I’ve got this sign. God confirmed it through a phrase that was spoken to me, through a dream that I had, through His Word when this passage of scripture jumped out to me.” See, God controls the whole universe. He controls nature. He controls animals. If you will be sensitive, you will see the hand of God at work even in the small things.

But I wonder how many times we miss the signs God is giving us? We think, “Oh, wow! The pages on the Bible flipped. That’s a good scripture.” No, learn to be sensitive to what God is doing. There is no such thing as a coincidence, no such thing as a lucky break. That’s the hand of God at work in your life. It could very well be God confirming a promise that He has placed in your heart.

David understood this principle. He said in Psalm 86:17, “God, send me a sign of Your favor.” Notice, David was on the offensive. He wasn’t waiting around to see if there was going to be sign. His attitude was “God, I know You promised You would give me a sign, so I’m asking You to confirm what You have put in my heart.” I wonder what would happen if we would be as bold as David and say, “God, give me a sign that this property is going to sell. Give me a sign that my child is going to come back home. Give me a sign that I’m going to meet the right person.” If you will be bold enough to ask, God promises He will confirm that word. He will do something out of the ordinary, something unusual to let you know beyond a shadow of a doubt it is the hand of God confirming what He has already put in your heart.

King Hezekiah was bold enough to ask for a sign. You see, he was very sick and close to death. The prophet Isaiah showed up at the palace and said, “Hezekiah, sorry, but God says you’re about to die. Your time here on earth is done.” Of course, that wasn’t the news Hezekiah was hoping for. He began to pray and plead with God. Before Isaiah could leave the palace grounds, God spoke to him and said, “Isaiah, go back and tell Hezekiah that I’m going to extend his life 15 more years.”

When Hezekiah got the news, of course he was thrilled, but he wanted confirmation. I can hear him saying, “Isaiah, I’m very grateful, very happy. But I need a sign. God promised He would confirm this word. I need something to encourage my faith.” Isaiah didn’t say, “Hezekiah, would you leave God alone? He gave you a promise, man. Just stand on it.” No, he said in 2 Kings 20:9, “This is the sign from the Lord to prove He will do what He promised. The sun will go backwards ten degrees.” They went outside and looked at the shadow on the sundial, and sure enough, instead of going forward, the shadow began to go backwards. Now every time Hezekiah was tempted to get discouraged and think that he wouldn’t get well, he would not only thank God for the promise, but he would remember the time God confirmed it by showing him a sign. He would think, “If God can cause the sun to go backwards, then He can heal my body.”

God gave Hezekiah this sign to encourage his faith. God wants to do the same thing for us. God knows that when we’re standing on His promises, believing to accomplish a dream, overcome an illness or get out of debt, at times it can seem impossible. Every voice tells us, “It’s not going to happen. You’re too old. It’s been too long. You’ve made too many mistakes.” It’s easy to get discouraged and give up on these promises. But if we can just learn to do like David and say, “God, give me a sign of Your favor. Give me a sign that my health is going to improve. Give me a sign that this relationship has Your blessing.” Then your faith is released, and faith is what allows God to do amazing things.

Friends, you are the apple of God’s eye. You are His most prized possession. God knows when you get up and when you sit down. He knows when you feel lonely, discouraged, and when you’re overwhelmed. God wants to do something amazing in your life. He wants to do things to strengthen your faith and uplift your spirits, but He is waiting for you to take the first step. Remember, we have not because we ask not. Those promises that you’re standing on today, the dreams in your heart, the situations you’re believing will turn around, dare to say, “God, give me a sign of Your favor. Give me a sign that I’m going in the right direction.”

Maybe you find yourself in a place like my father. You need hope, encouragement and strength to keep going. Let me encourage you to simply release your faith and ask God for His favor and a sign. God will do the same for you as He did for my father, for David and Hezekiah. If you’re going to see signs of God’s favor, build your faith and overcome obstacles, then dare to ask. Release your faith. Rise up with boldness and an understanding of who you are — a child of the Most High God, valuable, chosen, set apart and crowned with favor. Put your shoulders back, hold your head up high and dare to say like David, “God, give me a sign that promotion is coming. Give me a sign that this depression is leaving. Give me a sign that my child is going to break this addiction.” When you ask, you’re releasing your faith. You’re saying, “God, I believe You can do what You promised. God, I believe You are bigger than what the medical report says. I believe You are greater than what my bank account looks like. I believe You are stronger than what the critics are telling me. I may not see a way, but God, I know You have a way, and You will bring these promises to pass.”

If you will release your faith by asking, then be on the lookout and expect God’s goodness. He promises He will confirm that word by showing you some kind of sign.