This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis [ts@godspeak.net]

-----

              Put Your Trust In Me

Child of Mine, I want you to learn to trust Me in the midst of trials,
difficulties and hardships. I know that these are very stressful for you, 
but it would cause Me great delight if you could learn not to worry 
about them. Yes, things will go wrong in your life. Yes, difficulties 
will come your way. Yes, you will be treated unfairly at times. And yes,
there are times when you will be falsely accused. Do not worry about these
times, for your worry will not accomplish anything. 

Remind yourself that I am your provider and your protector. I am quite 
capable of taking care of you, and I am wiling to do so. You can trust
Me in the midst of your hard times, for I am with you and I am at
work on your behalf. You may not be able to see all that I am doing,
but I have promised in My word that I will work in all things to turn
them for My glory, and I always keep My promises.

Child, I always have a plan, and I am able to execute it. There are many
times when I don't tell you precisely what that plan is. Do not be 
confused by this: the fact that I have not communicated My plan to you 
is never an indication that I am not actively taking care of you. There 
are times when I don't give you all of the details. That is because I 
want you to trust Me instead of trusting in My plan. I want you to know 
deep down in the innermost part of your being that I am trustworthy and 
good; I want you to trust that I will take care of you. 

Dear one, have you seen father hold a toddler child in his arms? His child 
doesn't know or understand all that is going on around it, but it knows 
that it is safe and loved in Daddy's arms. My child, you are just as safe 
in My arms as that toddler is with it's father. In fact, you are even more 
safe than that, as there is no one who can overpower Me or keep Me from 
taking care of My own.

I know that you would prefer to worry and fret about important things in
your life. But when they are out of your control, that activity does not
accomplish a single thing, other than possibly making you sick. I would
prefer that you trust Me to the point that you stop fretting over the
things you cannot control. In fact, I would like you to look at them
differently. I am giving you an opportunity to delight My spirit
with your faith and child-like trust. Place it in Me and you will not
be disappointed. 

Remember My word when things go from bad to worse. I often worked that
way in the lives of My own just before I gave them the greatest deliverance
and the biggest victory. My children cried out to Me in bondage in Egypt.
When I sent My deliverer to them, things appeared to get worse before 
they got better. Their work load was increased and the bondage became 
worse. Yet I was at work on their behalf. I did not abandon them, but
with My own strong hand, I led them out of Egypt. Even My deliverance
was wrought with seeming problems. Shortly after they left Egypt, an
army pursued them, intent to kill them. They could have blessed Me 
greatly if they simply trusted in Me. I already had a plan in place
even thought they did not know what it was.

But they choose to fret and become anxious; they choose to let fear 
reign over them. Despite their improper reaction, I fought on their 
behalf and I came through for them. I split the Red Sea and let them 
pass through on dry ground. Then I consumed their enemy in the midst
of the waters so that Pharaoh would never torment them again. I had
a plan, and I carried it out on their behalf.  

If only they had chosen to trust Me instead of fretting, I would have
poured out a blessing and a victory on them that is beyond description.
But I remained faithful to them even when they did not put their full
trust in Me.  

Child of Mine, I have a plan of deliverance for you as well. Things may
appear to go wrong as I implement My plan--they may even seem to get
worse. But I invite you to look to Me instead of to your circumstances.
Trust Me even when you don't understand what I am doing. If you are able
to do that, My peace will settle over you, and I will pour out a greater
measure of My tangible presence in your life.  I will release blessings
that are greater than what you have dreamed of, and I will cause My 
glory to shine upon you.

So, dear one, I put a choice before you. You can choose to fret, or you
can choose to trust Me. I will be faithful to you in either case, but
it will go much better for you if you put your trust in Me.