Devin Schubert is not your typical entrepreneur and life coach. Known for his signature orange attire that symbolizes authenticity in a world of convention, Devin has built a six-figure business and conquered 100 speaking stages in a single year. But his journey to success wasn't paved with ease or privilege. In a recent episode of The Unsidelined Life podcast, host Eileen Noyes welcomed Devin to share his extraordinary story of transformation. Behind the vibrant orange exterior and infectious smile lies a man who has experienced profound loss, trauma, and a near-death experience that ultimately reshaped his entire life purpose.

What makes Devin's story so compelling is how the darkest moments of his life—discovering his ex-wife's infidelity, fighting for his adopted son through severe behavioral challenges, and receiving a diagnosis that gave him just months to live—became the very foundation for his current mission. Through his platform Stories to Stages, Devin now empowers others to craft and share their own stories across media, believing that our deepest wounds often become the seeds of our greatest purpose. This blog post explores how extreme adversity forged an unshakable identity and purpose for Devin that extends far beyond personal success, offering insights for anyone navigating their own journey through trauma and transformation.

Finding Identity Beyond Circumstance  

When Devin's world came crashing down, it happened in the most dramatic fashion possible. After returning from a youth ministry conference, spiritually energized and ready to take on the world, he pulled into his driveway to find a strange Jeep parked there. Walking inside, he discovered evidence that his wife had been having an affair with her boss, who had quickly fled through the back door. In an instant, everything changed. As a church leader who had planted seven churches and nine ministries, Devin was immediately confronted with not just personal betrayal but professional consequences as well.

The religious community he had devoted his life to serving responded with judgment rather than support. Leadership told him he would never serve in a church position again because of his divorce, despite the fact that he wasn't the one who had broken his vows. This second betrayal—being condemned for a situation beyond his control—could have destroyed his faith entirely. Instead, it became the catalyst for a profound spiritual revelation. Through an inner healing ministry he connected with shortly after his divorce, Devin experienced a transformative insight: "You do not get your identity from the creation. You get your identity from the Creator."

This revelation fundamentally shifted how Devin saw himself. Rather than accepting the label of "divorced" and the limitations others tried to place on him, he embraced his true identity as beloved, as royalty, as someone with intrinsic worth not defined by circumstances or others' opinions. This identity shift became the foundation that would sustain him through even greater challenges ahead. It also highlights an essential truth for anyone navigating trauma: our circumstances, no matter how painful, do not define who we are or what we're capable of becoming.

When Parenting Becomes a Life-or-Death Battle  

The most harrowing chapter of Devin's story began when his ex-wife called him while he was hunting, informing him she had kicked their adopted son out of the house without shoes, socks, or a coat. This child, who had experienced severe trauma before adoption, struggled with high-functioning autism, physical aggression issues, and the emotional fallout of family dissolution. When Devin took full custody, he had no idea that the decision would ultimately bring him to death's door.

For five years, Devin devoted himself entirely to caring for his son, losing jobs, friends, family connections, and spending nearly $100,000 seeking help that never seemed to come. The situation became increasingly dangerous, with Devin installing 27 cameras throughout his home to document his son's behavior and protect himself from false allegations. His sleep disappeared completely as he managed violent episodes that required physical restraint for 15-20 minutes before police could arrive. The isolation became complete—no one was safe to be around them, and no one seemed able to help.

The breaking point arrived when Devin momentarily left a knife on the kitchen counter while letting the dog out. His son, who had been threatening to kill him for weeks, took the weapon. When police refused to intervene because they didn't consider the situation an "imminent risk," Devin faced an impossible choice. Shortly afterward, he collapsed at the hospital while there for his son's admission. Doctors discovered that the years of trauma had essentially broken the communication between his brain and nervous system. The diagnosis was clear but devastating: complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) with just three months left to live unless he entered 24/7 treatment himself.

A Supernatural Turning Point  

Lying in bed with nothing left—no job, no money, no health, and his son finally receiving care in a residential facility—Devin asked God to take him home. He had fought for five years to get his son the help he needed, and now that this final goal was accomplished, he saw no reason to continue his suffering. It was in this moment of complete surrender that the extraordinary happened. Devin describes seeing a silhouette approach his bed—a presence he immediately recognized as Jesus.

The message he received would change everything: "It's not time for you to come home yet. You have a story to tell, and it's going to change the nations." When Devin protested, Jesus added a vital condition—he would go through a process of healing rather than receiving an instantaneous miracle. The reason was profound: while few people experience or can relate to miraculous instant healing, millions could be impacted by witnessing someone navigate the genuine, messy process of recovery. For the next four months, Devin embarked on this healing journey with divine guidance.

During this period, Jesus revealed two transformative insights that would become the foundation of Devin's new purpose. First, he was told that God had "deposited the father's heart" within him—the capacity to love unconditionally even when everyone else saw only brokenness, just as he had done with his son. Second, he learned that the hypervigilance that had developed as a trauma response could be transformed from a liability into a gift. His heightened awareness, once directed toward danger and self-protection, could be redirected toward spiritual perception—allowing him to sense what others were experiencing and to speak prophetically into their lives. What the enemy had intended for destruction, God was repurposing for restoration.

Building a Legacy Through Story  

Devin's healing journey culminated in a divine assignment that arrived six months ago. Invited to deliver a "Kim10 talk" (a Christian version of TEDx), he sought direction about what message to share. The answer came as a clarification of something Jesus had told him years earlier: "I'm going to give you the 99 to share your stories to the nations." This cryptic message finally made sense—he was being called to help a million people share their stories across media platforms.

This revelation birthed Stories to Stages, an all-inclusive platform that helps people craft and share their personal narratives. The program includes a boot camp that teaches participants how to shape their story, craft a gripping message with a "mic drop ending," and master various presentation formats from podcasts to stage talks. Devin's team then handles the technical aspects—editing recordings, adding professional intros and outros, creating promotional materials, and publishing across social media platforms—removing every barrier that might prevent someone from sharing their story.

The full-circle moment in Devin's journey came recently when his son, after three and a half years in residential treatment, announced he wanted to start a podcast to help others avoid the struggles he experienced. This development confirmed what Jesus had told Devin about legacy—it wasn't just about his personal impact but about creating a ripple effect that would extend through generations. The father's heart that had been deposited in him was now being multiplied, extending far beyond his immediate family to create a global community of storytellers whose lives would touch countless others.

Key Elements of Crafting Your Story  

Devin's approach to storytelling includes several critical components that allow personal narratives to create maximum impact:

• Start with your "why" - Understanding the deeper purpose behind sharing your story creates clarity and drives authenticity

• Identify the truth - Share what actually happened without sugar-coating, while focusing on elements that will resonate with others

• Create a clear framework - Structure your story with a beginning that draws people in, a middle that builds connection, and an ending that inspires action

• Develop technical skills - Learn to present effectively across multiple platforms (camera, podcast, stage)

• Build in a "mic drop" ending - Conclude with something memorable that inspires your audience toward a specific action or realization

• Share consistently - Your story gains power through regular sharing rather than one-time telling

Your Story Matters  

Devin Schubert's journey reminds us that our darkest moments don't have to define our future—they can become the very foundation of our greatest purpose. From the devastating discovery of his wife's infidelity to the life-threatening stress of caring for his son, Devin experienced trauma that would have destroyed many. Instead, through supernatural intervention and a willingness to embrace the healing process, he transformed his pain into purpose.

The transformation wasn't instantaneous or easy. It required Devin to embrace a new identity rooted not in circumstances but in divine connection. It demanded that he surrender his timeline and expectations, accepting that the process—with all its messiness and setbacks—was as important as the outcome. Most importantly, it called him to share his story openly, recognizing that vulnerability isn't weakness but the most powerful tool for connection and impact.

Today, Devin's mission through Stories to Stages extends far beyond his personal success. He has created a legacy that will outlive him, empowering countless others to transform their own pain into purpose through the power of story. His invitation extends to each of us: What story are you carrying that could change someone's life if you had the courage to share it? Visit www.storiestostages.com to learn how you can craft your narrative and join a community of storytellers who are changing the world one story at a time. Your journey—with all its triumphs and tragedies—matters more than you know, and someone needs to hear exactly what you've experienced to find hope for their own path forward.