The 'Joel Osteen Reacts to Floods' meme stems from the 2017 Hurricane Harvey disaster in Houston, Texas. Joel Osteen and his Lakewood Church faced intense public backlash after reports circulated that the massive megachurch remained closed to those seeking shelter from the rising floodwaters. While the church eventually opened its doors, the internet had already solidified the image of Osteen's signature smile juxtaposed against the disaster. This meme template is typically used to satirize perceived hypocrisy, wealth disparity, or out-of-touch responses from influential figures during times of national or local crisis.