This word is submitted by Laura Strack [lestrack@yahoo.com]

-----

                     Overcoming Disappointment

My dear child, I want to speak to you about disappointments. Any time 
that you place your hope in anything but Me, disappointments can occur. 
Any time that you begin to look away from Me and place your expectation 
in something other than the knowledge of Who I am, you set yourself up 
for disappointment to creep in. Do not doubt that the enemy of your 
soul watches and waits for this to happen, for he loves to torment My 
children with lies and to whisper in their ear that I do not love them, 
or that I will not come through for them. Indeed, his ways are subtle. 
He loves to manipulate disappointment into discouragement so that My 
children will not move forward in Me. He knows that his time is drawing 
short. Do not listen to him, but listen to Me. 
     
I love you. I have told you that and I tell it to you again. I love you 
completely, wholly, without reservation, without judgment, without measure. 
But I am a jealous God. I want all of you, not just pieces here and 
there. I do not want you to think that I do not care about what happens 
to you. I care. I have specifically chosen the things that will test you 
to bring you closer to Me. I know precisely what you can endure and will 
never allow you to be tested beyond your ability to endure. 
   
I am always working to perfect you, to bring you to a greater knowledge 
of Who I am. Every difficulty you face is an opportunity for Me to show 
you Who I really am. Every trial you endure is another opportunity for 
Me to reveal another facet of My character to you so that you will not 
want to put your trust in another. Put your trust in Me and allow My hope 
to spring up. For truly if you do, disappointments will fade away and in 
its place you will find yourself walking in victory and peace will be 
your portion.