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

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                      Do You Trust Me?

Do you trust Me, child of Mine?  I mean to you really trust Me?  It is easy
for you to trust Me from that place of deep intimacy, where you can feel My
nearness and you experience the assuredness of My love for you deep in your
innermost being.  It is easy to trust Me when you see My hand at work on
your behalf, when it is evident that I am working in your situation to bring
My glory or My deliverance into it.  It is easy to trust Me when I give you
assignments for My kingdom and I work with you to accomplish them, both
through My indwelling Spirit empowering you, and through My working through
circumstances with My unmistakable signature.

But child, do you trust Me when I put you on the shelf for a season of
rest?  Do you trust Me when you can't sense My nearness, when you are in
what you call a "desert experience?"  Do you trust that I love you just as
much when I am not using you to do My kingdom work as I do when I give you
an assignment? Do you trust Me to be the same One who you have known even
when I do not feel close to you?  Can you trust Me as your protector even
when there is nothing to deliver you from?  Do you trust that I am working
for your good when you cannot seen evidences of My hand in your current
situation?  Do you trust that I am pleased with you when I allow you to go
about your daily activities without breaking into your day?

Child of Mine, I want you to learn to trust Me in every area of your life
and experience. There will be times when I feel so close, and there will be
times when you don't sense My nearness.  Do you have any idea how much it
pleases Me when you trust Me even when it feels like I am far away from you?

I know it is harder for you to walk by faith than by sight, but child, I
do require that you learn to walk by faith. That means there will be times
when I don't allow you to experience Me in the way that you are used to
experiencing Me.  I want you to trust My word, for it is written that I
do not change.  Child, I am the same loving Father to you in the desert
that I am in the place of intimacy.

Have I not told you in My word what pleases Me?  Is it not to love Me with
all of your heart and to obey Me willingly in whatever I command of you?
Is it not to do right and to walk in holiness and to demonstrate My love
to those around you?  So why is it that you can do all these things, but
if you don't sense My nearness, you assume I am displeased with you? Child,
I want you to learn who I really am so you don't feel that way.

Trust Me to be Who I have said I am in My word. Know that I am faithful and
believe that I am with you in the midst of dryness and in the midst of
adversity or difficulty.  Child, I remain your loving Father no matter
circumstance you are in, no matter what you experience.  I am near to you
even when you can't sense My presence, and I am working on your behalf even
when you can't see My hand in the midst of your difficulties.

I want you to know that I am Who I said I am, that I don't change, that I
am faithful, and that I have your good at heart.  I will bring you through
times of stretching, that I might cause you to grow in faith. But I will
never abandon you, I will never disqualify you and I will never reject you,
for you are Mine and you were purchased at such a great price, and you are
very precious to Me.

I want you to begin to trust Me no matter what circumstance you are in. I
want you to know you are loved even when I feel far away. I want you to
know that My hand is upon you for good, and that I am working My glory in
your life. I want you to have some idea of who I really am and of how
faithful and dependable I am.  Then you will be able to trust Me no matter
what, and that is what I desire of you.

Trust Me, child of Mine, for I am faithful and I am good.