This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis (ts@gospeak.org)

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                   In Times Of Difficulty

Child of Mine, draw close to Me and allow Me to embrace you.  I long to
wrap My arms of love around you to comfort you.  I see the sorrow of your
loss, and I feel your pain along with you.  It is My heart to draw you
close to Me and to heal your hurt. I desire to restore your soul and to
bind up your wounds and to strengthen you.

Am I not the One Who turns sorrow into joy unspeakable and am I not the
One Who turns mourning into dancing?  Yes, child, I am the God of
transformation, and I desire to bring My glory into your situation.

I am the source of all joy, and I will give you My supernatural peace.
But child, I have not promised that all of your circumstances will be
pleasant and easy.  There will be difficult times; there will be times
when I allow trial or affliction to come into your life.  There will be
times when I allow a relationship to fail or I allow a loved one to die.
There will be times when you will face hardship.  Do not be surprised by
this, for My Own dear Son has said, "In this world there will be
tribulation..."**  And yes, tribulation will come into your life as well.
So when these trials come, do not assume that I am punishing you and do
not take difficulties as a sign that I have abandoned you.  This hardship
is simply a valley that you must pass through on your way to the place of
victory that I have prepared for you.

My Son warned you of these tribulations, but He also told you to be of
good cheer because He has overcome this world.  What does all that mean
to you?  It means that there will be times when I allow you to go through
things that make you sad.  There will be times when I allow you to
encounter difficulty and to face trials, and there will be times when I
lead you through the valley of the shadow of death.  But, dear child, I
will not leave you there; that will not be your end state.  You are just
passing through this valley and I will lead you out of the other side.

Know that I will not abandon you in your difficulty, nor will I leave you
in your sorrow, nor will I cause you to fend for yourself.  I will walk
every step alongside of you and I will be your strength and your comfort.
I will work behind the scenes to turn all things around for My glory, and
I will work My plans and My good purposes in your situation.  Your present
sorrow will only last for a short season--the end that I have for you is
joy and peace and hope and victory.

Child, when you are in the midst of the difficulty, I never intended for
you to bare it by yourself. I will be your peace and your strength and
your comfort and your joy, if only you will allow Me to. I will hold you
up when you feel too weak to stand on your own. I will give you rest and
peace in the night and I will comfort your heart when sorrow tries to
overwhelm you.  All I ask of you is that you draw near to Me and place
your trust in Me.

If you do what I ask, you will not be disappointed.  Child of Mine, I can
make the valley of the shadow of death a place of My presence and I can
transform the desert into a place of oasis in Me.  So draw near to Me in
the midst of your difficulty, allow Me to wrap My arms around you to
embrace you. Allow Me to become your strength and your song and your
salvation.***

Child, I am with you and I will never abandon you.


** John 16:33
*** Exodus 15:2, Psalm 118:14, Isaiah 12:2