Let Them Walk | Joel Osteen

I want to talk to you today about let them walk.

We all have people that God brings across our path that are there for a lifetime, our spouse, our children, friends that we cherish.

They're loyal and stick with us through thick and thin.

But not every relationship is designed to last forever.

There are seasons, and sometimes a good season will come to an end.

Who you needed to raise your children may not be the same ones you need when they're grown and gone.

Other times, God has taken you higher.

You're growing.

The people that have been with you can't go where you're going, so doors will close.

One of the hardest things for us is to let people go.

You have to recognize when their part in your story is over.

Doesn't mean you can't still be friends, but it's not gonna be the same.

If not, we try to hold onto things that God is finished with.

When that season is over, there's no grace for it.

There's this tension.

They want to leave, but we don't want them to go, and now it's a struggle, a strain, trying to force it to work.

But when someone wants to walk away, you have to learn to let them walk.

We spend too much time trying to convince people to stay, and we have to play up to them, manipulate.

Why aren't they calling? Am I not good enough? I hope they come by.

Do yourself a favor.

Move on with your life.

Don't waste another minute trying to convince someone to love you, call you, come see you.

You are a gift.

You are a treasure, a prized possession.

If someone doesn't recognize your value, they don't treat you like the masterpiece that you are, with respect, with honor, that's a sign that season has changed.