Unshakeable Trust
with Joyce Meyer
Q: You have always been so open about your personal journey in life and ministry. Did you ever think you’d be here now, experiencing the worldwide influence God has given you today? Why or why not?
A: It’s so amazing what God has done in my life to get me where I am today. I was a housewife in Fenton, Missouri, making my bed one morning, when God clearly spoke to my heart and said I would teach His Word and help people all around the world.
According to the world’s standards, I didn’t have the right education or experience to qualify me to do this, so I just had to believe what God said and take steps of faith to move forward in His call on my life. The key has always been choosing to believe God and His Word more than what I think or feel, what others say, or what my circumstances look like.
I am a living, breathing testimony of what God can do when you let Him do what He wants to do in your life. And if He can use me, He can use anybody who is willing to trust Him and follow His ways.
Q: You have authored numerous books and speak regularly at conferences. How do you manage to stay rested, refreshed, and ready to meet each of these challenges with such tenacity?
A: It’s so important to keep first things first. Over the years, I’ve learned that if I’m going to maintain any kind of normal schedule, I’m going to have to be very selective with my time. This means saying no to some things and making sure I don’t take on too much.
Spending time with God is my greatest priority because I can’t do any of these things without Him. I also need time to just rest and relax. You should see me the day after one of my conferences—I get in my favorite chair and catch up on one of my favorite programs on TV or make some popcorn and watch a movie.
Q: You’ve recently released your latest book, Unshakeable Trust: Find the Joy in Trusting God at All Times, in All Things. What can readers expect as they turn the pages?
A: I love the quote by D. L. Moody that says, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him.” Learning to trust God completely—without borders—and living with faith beyond reason is what he’s talking about. That’s the message I’m teaching throughout this book.
The Word of God is full of scriptures about faith and trusting God, so each chapter in the book breaks down biblical principles that show us how to live this way. The goal is to help each reader understand how to take practical steps in their daily life that bring them to a deeper level of trust in God in every area of life. Because trusting God really is the answer to every situation…every need we face in life.
Q: Why is it so critical that we learn to trust God in every situation?
A: When it comes down to it, I believe we really have two choices. We’re either going to worry about our problems and wear ourselves out trying to make things happen on our own, or we’re going to choose to trust God and believe He has everything under control.
Trusting God releases His peace and joy in our lives. Even in difficult times, He wants us to rest in Him and believe He’s going to take care of us. As we trust God, He can turn a bad situation around and work it out for our good.
I naturally tend to want to be in control and want to “know.” But it was a great day when the Lord helped me to understand that we don’t have to know all the answers—we just have to know “the One Who knows.”
Q: Can you give us an example from your own life when you faced an obstacle and realized that trusting God was the only way to overcome it?
A: From the very beginning of my journey to have a close, personal relationship with God, there have been challenges to face. Many of them had to do with changes that needed to happen in me because of the damage in my soul from the years of abuse when I was growing up. I was so determined to take care of myself when I left home at 18 because I didn’t believe I could trust anyone to really love me and do what was best for me.
Learning to trust God—that He loves me and will always do what is right for me—was such an amazing experience! It was a long, hard process, and there were times I wondered if I’d make it through it. But I can honestly say now that I really enjoy my life because of the healing and freedom I’ve experienced through entrusting myself completely to God.
Q: As a sneak peek, can you share just a few practical tips on how believers can apply the truth contained in your latest book to their lives?
A: I don’t want to give too much away (smile), but the topics in the book focus on common issues we all deal with. Things like what does it really mean to trust? How do you trust when you’re suffering? If God is good, why do people suffer? And how do you deal with doubt?
The truth is, the world we live in is always changing and can be unstable in so many ways; there are some things we will never fully understand in this life. But the benefits of trusting God at all times is simply amazing! In the middle of our struggles, we can still have peace, comfort, stability and joy if we have an unshakeable trust in God!
Q: For those who haven’t seen program on Daystar, Enjoying Everyday Life, what can viewers who tune in expect to hear?
My passion is teaching people about the Word of God…how to apply His truth to our lives. Because God’s Word is literally life-changing when you follow the way it shows us to live. The Bible is our instruction book for life!
I know this from personal experience—God’s Word has radically transformed my life. And what God has done for me, He wants to do for everyone who will choose to put their trust in Him and do what He shows them to do. In each program, people will learn something about who God is, how He loves us, and who He’s created us to be. My prayer is always that each message brings more healing for their soul, encouragement to keep going, and a stronger hope for their future.
Q: Enjoying everyday life was not a spiritual principle you learned overnight. What was the key to turning things around in your own life so that you can now share this message with the world today?
A: For years, I was a miserable Christian—angry, insecure, controlling, manipulative, and everything was a struggle. I loved God and was born again, but I didn’t know that He had a good plan for me. I just thought it was normal to struggle through life. But, thank God, I finally got to the place where I was desperate to change. That’s when God gave me a revelation of John 10:10 and I started the journey, learning how to enjoy my everyday life.
This verse says Jesus came so we can “have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)” (AMPC). It was so amazing to really get it that I didn’t have to settle for a miserable life, just getting by and hanging on till Jesus comes back to get us. I can enjoy my life right now!
Q: Through Joyce Meyer Ministries, you’ve been able to launch a mission’s program called Hand of Hope. Describe some of the practical ways you’re meeting the needs of people around the world through this organization.
A: From the very beginning of our ministry, we have made missions a priority. I’m so grateful that God taught me how to be a giver and to help people right where they are. To be honest, outside of the call God has over my life to teach His Word, this aspect is just as important to me.
Sometimes people are hurting so much that they can’t even hear the Gospel message. So, as a ministry, we’ve committed to do both: address their practical need (feeding, clean water, access to medical care, rescuing women and girls from horrific situations, providing education to kids all around the world who simply can’t afford it) and tell them of a God who loves them and has an awesome future planned for them.
It reminds people that God has not forgotten them. It shows them that there is a God who deeply cares for them and the smile on their faces inspires us to do as much as we can.
Q: Of the many things you’ve done over the years in ministry, what accomplishment or project stands out as your favorite?
A: The Word of God is the foundation of our ministry, and within the last few years, I’ve experienced a deeper passion and urgency to help people learn how to really study the Word, not just read it. So many believers aren’t experiencing the life God has for them because they don’t know His Word or how to live it out. They are unhappy…they don’t like themselves or their life, and they’re missing out on the things God has for them.
So along with continuing to teach biblical principles people need to apply to their lives, I’ve been working to develop more Bible study resources. We started making programs that give our viewers actual Bible study experiences, and our website has a variety of free study plans to help people go deeper in God’s Word and get closer to Him.
Q: You’ve said that there were people who didn’t believe in the call God had placed on your life in the early days of your ministry. What encouragement would you give to someone who knows they’ve heard from the Lord concerning their purpose, but is experiencing a negative reaction from others about it?
A: Be determined to keep your focus on pleasing God, not people. Sometimes that means you “do it afraid.” Pray for grace and strength to keep moving forward, doing what you know to do, and make a conscious decision to believe what God says more than you believe what others are saying or doing.
Get rooted in the love of God, so you can see yourself the way He sees you. And when you are facing discouragement and rejection from the people you hoped would support you, make the decision to never give up!
John 15:5 (AMPC) says when we abide or live in Christ, we’ll bear “much (abundant) fruit.” But apart from Him, we can do nothing. You’ll find that God will give you supernatural peace and confidence to do what He’s put in your heart when you abide in Him.
Q: As an American, you’ve no doubt seen a lot of the current divide that exists in this nation. How can believers around the world pray in a way that will heal the wounds that exist and set America on course for success?
A: I think the enemy would love for us to get lost in the issues and constantly focus on what divides us. But the real solution is to get our eyes on God.
We can’t always keep people who hate from hating, but we can conquer hatred with love. God loves every single one of us unconditionally, and we need to walk in that same kind of love with one another.
I believe one of the greatest things we can pray is for the Lord to work in people’s hearts and draw them to Him. Pray the United States would return to their first love—Almighty God—and begin to respectfully stand up for the godly principles upon which this nation was founded.
Q: What advice would you give those starting out in ministry as they determine their next steps in reaching the world with the Gospel?
A: When God calls you to do something, He is saying, “This is possible.” That is, it is possible if we follow His leadership and do what He tells us to do – every step of the way. So, whatever He is putting in your heart to do, do what you know to do and then trust God to do the rest.
Q: What’s next for Joyce Meyer Ministries? Can you share what the Lord’s placed on your heart concerning future projects and events?
A: I want to continue to do what I feel is the core of who we are as a ministry: Share Christ and love people. So, teaching the Word and helping people every day for the rest of my life is my ongoing passion. Loving God means loving people, and my desire is to help others who are hurting to receive His love and get the healing they need—mentally, spiritually and practically! God’s Word has inherent power to bring total restoration through Christ.
I’ve found that as we are obedient to walk by faith in God, He blesses our work and will give us opportunities to help more people. We’ve experienced this with our world mission’s outreaches, called Hand of Hope. I’m amazed by how many ministries we partner with around the world today, helping to feed the hungry, take orphans into our children’s homes, rescue women and children from sex trafficking, provide free medical care in areas that don’t have it, bring relief to people in need after natural disasters…and the list goes on.
