based on the sermon “There’s purpose in your pain,” by Steve Robinson
I sat in the sanctuary of Church of the King that Sunday morning, listening as Pastor Steve Robinson began his message on divine strength. He called it, “There’s Purpose in Your Pain,” but for me, it was more than a sermon—it was a personal reminder that God often does His deepest work beneath life’s heaviest burdens.
I’ve lived through seasons where the weight felt unbearable—times when I was stretched thin, spiritually sore, and tempted to quit. But as Pastor Steve spoke, it was clear: those same weights are the very tools God uses to build faith muscles. He said, “You don’t get strong by walking around drinking protein shakes—you’ve got to put weight on the bar.”
That statement echoed in me long after service ended. Because just like the Apostle Paul writing from a Roman prison, I’ve learned that divine strength doesn’t show up in comfort—it shows up in my willingness to endure.
“Strength Isn’t Just Physical” — Spiritual Power Begins Where Self-Reliance Ends
Pastor Steve opened with a truth that hit close to home: “If there’s anyone qualified to talk about strength, it’s the Apostle Paul.” From a jail cell in Rome, Paul wrote to the Philippians about joy, endurance, and the kind of strength that comes only from Christ.
Strength, as he reminded us, is more than muscle—it’s mindset. Just like in the gym, “You won’t get strong without putting weight on the bar.” Spiritually speaking, every trial, temptation, and tribulation is another opportunity for growth.
Paul wrote, “The things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel” (Philippians 1:12 NKJV). That single verse should reframe every hardship we encounter—not as punishment, but as purpose–His divine purpose for our lives.
My Reflection:
I’ve spent much of my life trying to “muscle through” my problems. But God’s way is different. True spiritual strength begins where self-reliance ends. Every moment I’ve felt weak—physically, emotionally, or spiritually—has been an invitation to experience His power instead of mine.
“Turning Adversity into Opportunity” — When Pain Becomes a Platform
Quoting Jesus from John 16:33, Pastor Steve reminded us, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” Trouble isn’t optional—but victory is promised.
He said something that realigned my perspective: “God’s not punishing you when you go through a trial—He’s allowing you to grow through that trial.” Life’s resistance is not divine rejection; it’s divine development.
My Reflection:
In my own journey, I’ve mistaken pain for God’s absence when it was actually His presence shaping me. The weights I tried to escape were the very ones strengthening my spirit. What once felt like a setback was setting me up for growth.
“Move Off the Island of Why” — From Questioning to Trusting
Pastor Steve’s words still ring in my ears: “Some of you need to move off the island of why and take a ferry to the island of what now.” He said it with humor, but it carried deep truth. Paul didn’t waste energy asking why—he asked what now, God?
Perspective transforms suffering into purpose. “Same obstacle, different perspective,” Pastor Steve declared. “The devil wants to take you out, but God wants to set you up.”
My Reflection:
I’ve lived too long asking why me? But faith matures when we start asking what now, Lord? That shift in mindset changed everything for me. Instead of demanding answers, I started trusting the Author.
“Live Purposeful” — You Still Have a Pulse, Which Means You Still Have a Purpose
Paul wrote, “My chains are in Christ” (Philippians 1:13 NKJV). Even in confinement, he was fulfilling his calling. Pastor Steve said, “Be careful being chained to Paul—you’re going to hear about Jesus!”
Then he drove home a statement I’ll never forget: “You still have a pulse, which means you still have a purpose.” No circumstance—not failure, not heartbreak, not loss—can cancel God’s call on your life.
My Reflection:
That line brought tears to my eyes. I’ve seen dreams stall and plans unravel, but I’m still breathing—and that means God isn’t done. Purpose doesn’t pause in hardship; it deepens.
“Maintain Perspective” — Hope for the Future Brings Power to the Present
Reading from Philippians 1:21, Pastor Steve said, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” He reminded us, “When there’s hope for the future, there’s power in the present.”
He told the story of missionary Wayne Myers, who used to place sticky notes labeled ‘Temporary’ around his house—to remind himself that the world is fleeting. “You can enjoy this world,” Pastor Steve said, “but don’t love it. Love Christ.”
My Reflection:
As I listened, I realized how easy it is to get too comfortable here. I love this life, but I’m learning to hold it loosely. Heaven is my home, and until I get there, I want to live every day with eternity in view.
“Acknowledge Weakness, Discover Divine Strength” — The Power That Flows Through Surrender
“Divine strength doesn’t begin until you acknowledge human weakness,” Pastor Steve said. Paul echoed this truth in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Pastor Steve added, “God’s allowing weight to be put on the bar—not to destroy you, but to build your faith muscles.” When we stop relying on ourselves, we make room for His power to flow.
My Reflection:
I’ve come to see weakness differently. What once felt like failure now feels like formation. The same God who lifted Paul from despair lifts me daily—not through my strength, but through His sustaining grace.
Final Thoughts: Turning Resistance into Testimony
God never wastes trials or tribulations. Every challenge, every resistance, every moment you’ve wanted to quit—He uses all of it to refine your faith and shape your story. The very weight you’re carrying today may be the testimony someone else needs tomorrow.
The Apostle Paul said, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37 NKJV). That’s not just encouragement—it’s a declaration of identity. You are not being crushed by life’s pressures; you are being conditioned by them.
Ask yourself:
- What resistance is God using right now to strengthen your faith muscles?
- Where might He be preparing you for a testimony you haven’t yet told?
- How could this season become the very story that points others to His faithfulness?
If you’re walking through a hard place and wondering how to make sense of your story, I invite you to take another step of faith—start developing your testimony through our “Remember, Record, Recite” series. It’s designed to help you reflect on what God has done, write it down with clarity, and share it with boldness. Your trial doesn’t end with pain—it ends with purpose.
As Pastor Steve Robinson reminded us, “God’s allowing weight to be put on the bar not to destroy you, but to build your faith muscles.”
If this message encouraged you, watch the full sermon from Pastor Steve Robinson of Church of the King:
Steve Robinson is a pastor, speaker, and author with a ministry spanning the globe—including seven Church of the King locations in the United States, a new location in Cape Town, South Africa, a thriving online campus, and daily radio and television broadcasts. He is a graduate of Tulane University, holds a master’s degree from The King’s Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.
Pastor Steve serves on the board of Equip, a worldwide leadership organization led by John Maxwell, and Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is the author of Don’t Sway In The Delay, Decide To Thrive, Perspective Shift, Extraordinary Living, Simple Prayer, and Hope Again.
Pastor Steve’s passion is to see people who are far from God reached and discipled into fully-devoted followers of Christ. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in a suburb of New Orleans, Louisiana and are blessed with four children and one son-in-law—Isabelle and her husband Stone, Conrad, William, and Annaliese. You can learn more about him at steverobinson.com.
