I Had to Go Through It | Pastor Lawrence C. Barnes, Jr.

MAY 3, 2026On the journey through life’s trials, the greatest need is not escape—but transformation. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 10:1–2, Pastor Barnes reveals that what feels like a dead end is often God’s appointed pathway. Just as Israel stood before the Red Sea with no way out, we often find ourselves in moments of fear, pressure, and uncertainty. Though the trial feels overwhelming, it is not by chance—it is divine purpose. What we often rebuke as opposition may actually be God working as a Refiner, exposing and removing the iniquities hidden within us.At the center of this message is the truth: “You have to go through it.” God does not always remove the trial—He uses it. Like gold and silver refined by fire, the heat reveals what must be taken away so that purity can remain. The Red Sea was not just an obstacle, but a necessary transition from bondage to freedom. His process transforms fear into faith, bondage into deliverance, and pressure into purpose. If you feel like the weight is too much, the answer is not to escape—but to trust the Refiner, endure the process, and allow Him to bring you through so you can declare, “I had to go through it.”