The Potter’s House Podcast

Episode: This Time Is Different | Sarah Jakes Roberts

Date: April 12, 2026

Overview

In this episode, preacher and author Sarah Jakes Roberts delivers a powerful sermon titled “This Time Is Different”, addressing the spiritual weariness many experience when faithfully doing good, yet not seeing immediate results. Drawing from Paul’s letters, the story of Moses, and the life of David, Sarah encourages listeners to seek fresh strategies from God for new seasons, rather than relying on old methods. The message is a heartfelt invitation to discernment, surrender, and the courage to trust God for new weapons, strategies, and outcomes as we face life’s battles and sieges.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Context: Paul’s Letters and Mixed Perceptions (02:21)

• Text Reference: 2 Corinthians 10
• Paul is described as pleasant and kind in letters, but rumors circulate that he is meek in person and bold only when writing.
• Sarah translates this: “Like you talking, but you ain’t walking the way you talking, you know, like you not really bout that life.”
• Paul’s Response: Paul stresses he reserves his energy for battles that matter, and his boldness is not limited to his writings.

2. Insanity vs. Weariness: A Fresh Definition (06:48)

• Popular culture defines insanity as “doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”
• Sarah’s Definition: “Weariness is doing the same thing or thinking the same thing over and over again and experiencing the same disappointment.”
  • “We don’t get weary because we’re bouncing off of different outcomes. We get weary because… we’re not seeing anything changing.” (09:00)
• Weariness can come from doing the right thing without seeing a breakthrough.

3. Sowing and Reaping: Delayed Outcomes (15:00)

• Referencing Galatians 6:8-9: Sow in the flesh, reap corruption; sow in the spirit, reap everlasting life.
• “I’m not sowing in the spirit so that I can have that immediate return in fruit that comes with it. I’m sowing in the spirit because that is what I am called to do.” (18:50)
• Impatience and expectation of instant results grows weariness.

Notable Quote:

“If you expect an immediate outcome, you’ll grow weary when you should have been growing in the spirit.”
— Sarah Jakes Roberts (19:40)

4. Guarding the Heart During the Process (22:00)

• There is a connection between seeing harvest and protecting the heart.
• Weariness is an issue of the heart, not just circumstances:

“If your heart is lost in the process, you can be standing in harvest and miss it.” (23:10)

• Biblical Example: Elijah hears “the sound of abundance of rain” before any physical sign; sometimes you’ll sense breakthrough before you see it.

Notable Quote:

“It’s going to hit you in your chest before it shows up in your hand.”
— Sarah Jakes Roberts (25:00)

5. Old Strategies vs. New Strategies (26:40)

• Story of Moses (Numbers 20): Moses was told to speak to the rock, but in his weariness, reverted to an old method and struck it instead.

• Point: “When you’re weary, you just do what’s worked before and you miss out on what God is saying to do now.” (28:15)

• God may require you to retire old tactics for new battles.

• David as an Example: Discernment to use different weapons (slingshot for Goliath, sword as king), never placing faith in the method but in God’s strategy.

  • “Sometimes I win by slingshot. Sometimes I win by praise... But one thing I’m gonna do is win.” (32:00)

6. Battles vs. Sieges: Know Where You Stand (39:12)

• Battle: Short-term, can be resolved with direct power.
• Siege: Prolonged, demands patience, restraint, and strategy.
• Example: As a parent, some issues are battles (handled quickly), but mental health or deep-rooted challenges are sieges (require sustained prayer and strategic engagement, not quick fixes).

Notable Quote:

“Being under siege requires different weapons. It doesn’t just require power. It requires patience.”
— Sarah Jakes Roberts (41:00)

7. God’s Methods Aren’t Limited or Predictable (45:00)

• God’s ways of delivering and healing are not formulaic—what worked in one season may not in another.
• Various biblical healings: Jesus used different methods for different people (John 9, Mark 8, Matthew 9 & 20).
• “You’re weary because you’re looking for yesterday’s solution or your neighbor’s solution. But God says, don’t limit me.” (48:10)

8. Paul’s Strategy: Winning with a New Weapon (50:00)

• Paul wasn’t under siege—he was advancing the Kingdom with an unfamiliar strategy.
• Sarah urges: “Focus on how you war, not how you walk.”

Notable Quote:

“What really counts is not how you walk. It’s how you war. And how you war don’t have anything to do with how you walk, when you’re submitted to God.”
— Sarah Jakes Roberts (54:50)

9. Applying to Our Lives: Discernment for New Seasons (58:33)

• We need discernment not just to know, but do.
• God may call us to use unfamiliar weapons—methods, approaches, or perspectives that others don’t recognize or understand.
• “Your weapon without God’s anointing may not be mighty. That’s why you’ve got to make sure whatever weapon you reach for is mighty in God, to pull [strongholds] down.” (59:32)

10. Prayer and Activation (1:00:30)

• Sarah invites a moment of surrender—encourages listeners to “throw your hands up like you’re not holding on to your weapons. You’re only going to take what God gives you, only going to use what God gives you.”
• Prays for:
  • Those losing heart after doing good without seeing change.
  • Those grieving loss of control, needing to let God fight on their behalf.
  • Those whose God-given weapons/strategies seem misunderstood.
  • Those feeling weak or limited in body.

Memorable Prayer Excerpt:

“I speak restoration over them in the name of Jesus… Open their eyes and open their heart for the moment that rain hits the atmosphere. Let it rain.”
— Sarah Jakes Roberts (1:02:00)

Quotes & Memorable Moments (Chronological Timestamps)

• “Like you talking, but you ain’t walking the way you talking, you know, like you not really bout that life.” (03:30)
• “Weariness is when we do the same thing over and over and over again and experience and receive disappointment.” (10:20)
• “I’m not doing it to get, I’m doing it to become… You did not become you overnight.” (20:25)
• “The question is not will I keep sowing? The question is, can I keep heart?” (24:30)
• “It’s going to hit you in your chest before it shows up in your hand.” (25:00)
• “When you’re weary, you just do what’s worked before and you miss out on what God is saying to do now.” (28:15)
• “Right strategy at the wrong time is still the wrong strategy.” (30:00)
• “Sometimes I win by slingshot. Sometimes I win by praise… But one thing I’m gonna do is win.” (32:00)
• “Being under siege requires different weapons. It doesn’t just require power. It requires patience.” (41:00)
• “You’re weary because you’re looking for yesterday’s solution or your neighbor’s solution. But God says, don’t limit me.” (48:10)
• “What really counts is not how you walk. It’s how you war. And how you war don’t have anything to do with how you walk.” (54:50)
• “We are not called to cower now and wait while we are under siege. We are called to ask the Lord, what is it that you want me to take control of?” (1:00:00)
• “Your weapon without God’s anointing may not be mighty.” (1:00:30)

Summary Table of Key Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | Key Focus | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:21 | Setting context: Paul’s letters and their impact | Church division, Paul’s dual reputation | | 06:48 | Insanity vs. Weariness | Redefining weariness from spiritual perspective | | 15:00 | Sowing and reaping | Patience, delayed outcomes, guarding the heart | | 26:40 | Old vs. New strategies | Moses’ error, the danger of defaulting to outdated methods | | 32:00 | David’s discernment | Different battles, different weapons; faith in God not tools | | 39:12 | Battle vs. Siege | Distinguishing tactics for each — patience, strategy needed | | 50:00 | Paul’s hidden strength | Importance of spiritual strategy over physical appearance | | 58:33 | Present-day application | Need for discernment, embracing God’s new weaponry | | 1:00:30 | Concluding prayer and activation | Surrender, trust, restoration, call to discernment |

Takeaways for the Listener

• Discern the season you’re in: Not every challenge requires the same response; seek God’s strategy for each situation.
• Guard your heart: Focusing on outcomes can make you weary and jaded; protect your spiritual sensitivity through the process.
• Don’t be limited by methods: God’s ways are diverse—remain open to unfamiliar weapons and approaches.
• Submission over striving: Sometimes the right move is restraint, trusting God to act where your power is not assigned.
• Be encouraged: Weariness is not the end—harvest is coming; stay sensitive so you don’t miss it when it arrives.

This summary captures the sermon’s core messages, stories, and spiritual encouragement as shared passionately by Sarah Jakes Roberts. The episode is a call to embrace new divine strategies, protect the heart, and trust God with the outcomes, particularly when this time truly is different.