Trinity-Trained
A life touched by affliction, now releasing the sweet fragrance of Christ into the world.
There’s a sacred mystery to the sufferings we walk through—not only are they never wasted, but they are precisely fashioned to prepare us to carry out the kind of service the Father has in mind. Today's devotional from Abide Above reveals how God, in His triune love and wisdom, orchestrates every affliction with a dual purpose: first, to form Christ within us, and second, to enable us to bring comfort and truth to others who are suffering.
Our Father never sends us into the world with borrowed tools. He crafts the tools within us. As J.B.S. insightfully observes, God doesn’t pluck ready-made servants off the shelf. Rather, He raises them up through life’s trials, much like nurturing children—chastening in love, not punishing in wrath. His discipline is developmental, not penal.
When we face affliction, we’re not being sidelined—we’re being seasoned. And the harder the road, the more sacred the assignment that follows. Those whom God calls to walk the deep places often emerge as those most able to light the path for others. Yes, it’s costly. But oh, what a beautiful aroma it becomes—the fragrance of Christ spread through every place we go.
Personalized Journal Entry in the Holy Spirit’s Voice Through Scripture
I am the Comforter sent by the Father, and I remain with you through every season, wrapping you in the same comfort that flows from the Father’s heart. You have tasted My comfort not to keep it, but to become its vessel. When you were downcast, I met you there, not only to lift you, but to prepare you to lift others. I use every trial, every tear, as preparation for the ministry I am working through you.
My shaping of you is not random—it is nurture, not punishment. I discipline as a loving Father trains a child, fitting you for the very race I’ve called you to run. The moments of hardship are not detours; they are milestones in the journey of becoming a servant fit for My work. You have been trained not only in solitude but also in service—each act of love, each moment of offering yourself for others, becomes part of the preparation.
You may wonder why your road has been steep while others seem to stroll on flatter ground. I chose you to walk the narrow path so that you could return and say to the weary, “This is the way.” What you have walked through is not just for your growth, but for their freedom. The scars you carry will become windows through which My light shines.
In you, I am always leading a triumphal procession. What once felt like loss now releases a fragrance—the knowledge of Christ—spreading everywhere you go. Let your life be incense. You are not merely surviving affliction—you are participating in My redeeming work in the world.
(2 Corinthians 1:4; Hebrews 12:5–11; Ephesians 6:4; Romans 8:28–29; Isaiah 50:4; 2 Corinthians 2:14)
Prayer in My Voice
Father, I rest in the truth that nothing has been wasted. Every sorrow, every unanswered question, every lonely night has been wrapped in Your purpose. Thank You for transforming affliction into preparation, for shaping in me a heart that understands, a voice that can comfort, and hands that can serve. I trust You to continue leading this triumphal procession—one that makes much of Christ. May my life carry His fragrance wherever You send me. I know now: this was never just about me. It’s about those You love through me.
Amen.
Credits:
Devotional insights adapted from Abide Above, April 21 entry, “Trinity-Trained.”
Photo credit: Unsplash.com