By Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman
How do we praise God when everything is going wrong? When we get bad news? We praise God because God is God and God is good and God will have the last word and it will be good! When trouble hits, when suffering strikes, say, "Ha! Take that! Hallelujah anyway!"
The last few months, as our finances here at Crystal Cathedral Ministries have continued to suffer, I walk the grounds and see weeds growing where flowers had once bloomed. With tears in my eyes, I force myself to say aloud and mean it, "Hallelujah anyway! This is just a tough phase, but I believe in a tough God!"
When passing our statue of Job here on campus, seeing the fountain that surrounds it dry (the electric bill had to be cut wherever possible), I say aloud, …meaning it, with tears in my eyes, "Hallelujah anyway! Thank you, God, that even though you are trying us, we shall 'come forth as gold'" (Job 23:10).
And, indeed, I have seen that God allows our trials, our sufferings. He doesn't cause them, but he allows them—not to punish any of us, not because we have done something to deserve them, but that his glory will be revealed!
Yes, I have seen the glory of God revealed like never before in this ministry because of what we are going through. Probably the most beautiful phase of our ministry has been in April when thousands of ministry friends like YOU, in response to the financial downturn we have experienced, responded with an outpouring of love through the “icount” campaign, sending in $10 or more each through text, mail, 800 line, or online. (Note: At print date, over $300,000 dollars was raised through your "icount" donations.)
So, whenever you get afraid, join me in saying, "Ha! Hallelujah anyway!"
Say it whenever you are grieving: "Ha! Hallelujah anyway!"
Say it when you are having trouble believing: "Ha! Hallelujah anyway!"
I believe God allows suffering so all of us will be unified and connected in a common cause—a cause that is bigger than we are, requiring all of our efforts—large and small—to save something as significant as Crystal Cathedral Ministries.
I also believe that God allowed us to go through this difficult financial season so all of you would see that we are no different —we, too, are in the trenches. Over the years, many have seen the ministry's beautiful buildings and garden grounds and assumed that there was not an ongoing need for support - but there is. The ministry, which continues to deliver a message of faith and hope, is suffering like many others in this tough economic climate. So, despite the hard times, we join you in saying, "Ha! Hallelujah anyway!"
