Dr. Robert H. Schuller is founder and senior minister of the famed Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. His book, “Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do” has helped many people to hold on to hope and faith in the face of adversity during these rough economic times. Following is an excerpt from Part II of the book, entitled: Here’s How You Can Be Tough Too!

Don’t surrender leadership to the fracturing experiences of life. A brokenness can occur that leaves people without faith for the future. A young man said to me after his wife left him for another man, “I’m never going to trust another woman.” I said to him, “Believe in dreams. Never believe in hurt. Don’t let your fracturing experience shape your future.”

I remember a very dear friend who had a poodle, a lovely, adorable dog. The dog died. I said to her, “Betty, when are you going to get a new puppy?” She said, “Never again.” I said, “Why not?” “Oh, it hurts too much to lose them. I’ll never have another dog.” I said, “Betty, you can’t surrender to a hurt. You can’t let the grief and the hurts and the aches and the breaking experiences of life control your future decisions.”

Don’t surrender leadership to the flattening out experiences of life. I have seen families in this church that have withstood experiences that would crush others. One of these families was the Van Allen family. Both Ed and Jeanne are now gone, having passed away much too young. Ed Van Allen died when he was transporting a new airplane to a South Pacific mission station. The plane never made Honolulu. No sooner did Ed die than Jeanne got cancer. Jeanne was told that her case was terminal, that she did not have long to live. After courageously fighting a losing battle, she suddenly had a last resurgence. She came back and did some wonderful work and made some fine contributions. At her deathbed, I asked, Jeanne, where did you get the power to come back these last few weeks? Three months ago you were almost dead.”

She said, “Oh, I began to think, ‘This is it. You’re terminal. Now’s the time to quit, give up.’ But then I prayed and the thought came to me: If I give up, two organizations will benefit – the mortuary and the cemetery. But if I hang in there for another month or so, my family will benefit. Maybe my church can benefit.

“So I said to myself, I’m going to get dressed at least once more and I’m going to work on the telephone – the NEW HOPE Telephone Counseling – at least one day, or at least a couple of hours.” She said, “Then I began to get inspired. I thought of hundreds of things I wanted to do. I just kept saying, ‘I’m gonna do this. I’m gonna do that.’ Dr. Schuller, the “gonnas’ got me going!” Jeanne didn’t give in to the flattening out experiences. She also practiced the final principle of leadership, the principle that encompasses all of the above.

Do surrender leadership to one thing – faith. Let faith be in control of every decision you make and every action you take. You do that when you let the positive possibilities set your goals. When you look at your life and where it’s headed, ask yourself these questions: “Who’s in charge? Who’s in control? To whom have I surrendered leadership?”

Surrender leadership to faith. Surrender leadership to God. Let Him be in control of your life. Ask Him three questions: “God, who am I? Why am I here? Where am I headed?” At the very least, His answers may surprise you. They will open your eyes to the beautiful person that you are and will become, as well as the fantastic future that awaits you.