Pain is universal. Strength is optional.
I’m writing this while spending a week in a retreat center with my wife, Deb. Every day we sit in three hours of counseling – faithful, patient, and sometimes painful work. We’re mining both the joyful and the difficult memories, learning how to channel them into strength that serves others and builds a stronger life.
In the culture we live in, suffering is treated like a disease to be avoided at all costs. But in avoiding it, we forfeit something priceless. The apostle Paul points to this paradox: “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10, NIV).
My early years were marked by chaos: a refugee at five, seeing violence and oppression firsthand, changing countries four times by age seven, poverty and danger always close by. Those experiences left scars. But they also held seeds of strength I only recognized later. I now call this the Joseph Principle.
Strength doesn’t come by pretending pain isn’t there. It comes when you bring it into the light and allow God to repurpose it for your calling. That’s the pattern of Joseph’s story: betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, unjustly imprisoned. And then the turn: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20, NIV). Joseph’s wounds didn’t disappear. They became the very preparation for his destiny.
My own story follows that rhythm. From those beginnings, I’ve had the privilege to lead churches, build businesses, and serve the poor. Almost all of it grew out of suffering that God reshaped into strength. And here’s the truth: suffering is the one resource everyone has in abundance, but few ever redeem it.
That’s why I created a roadmap. In my latest video, I show you how to turn suffering into strength, with a practical worksheet in the show notes to guide your next steps.
If you’re ready to see God turn your struggles into strength, I invite you to join this 90-minute live workshop. Together, we’ll walk through the Joseph Principle step by step and begin building your “Struggles to Strength Roadmap.” Everyone who registers will also receive a downloadable worksheet to anchor the work we do live. Secure your spot today for $97 on the registration page — space is limited.
