Joy is not dependent upon circumstances. We know that to be true but, sometimes, our hearts need a little reminder. There are days when evil seems to triumph and praise is a little painful. We live in a fallen, sin-scraped world and it hurts. Yet, in our distress, we have an opportunity to bring God great glory.

When the tears flow and the heart aches, we say, Hallelujah anyway.

Loved ones become ill and dreams die. People walk away and jobs are deleted. Hurtful words and deeds come from unexpected places. We stumble along a broken path desperate for a glimmer of the life we once knew. When we do not understand how this could be a part of His plan, we say, Hallelujah anyway.

We trust the One who says that He will never let us go. We praise Him in the good and we praise Him in the bad. For we know that our afflictions are only temporary and fleeting compared to the glory that awaits us.

For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Momentary. Light. Temporary.

Oh, I know that it doesn’t seem that way now. It feels like this is the trial of all trials. You think this is the one that is finally going to be the death of you, but it is not.  This thing does not end here. We are promised much, much more.

Incomparable. Eternal. Glory.

That is what we focus on. We remember that there are unseen things that are far greater. So, when this world tries to crush our hopes and break our spirits, we carry on. When our hearts are downcast within us, we lift our eyes to the skies and say…

Hallelujah anyway.