Faith and George Mueller - by Anna

 Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”


I was reading my Literature book this morning, and I found a passage on George Mueller—by Anna Talbott McPherson, and it was called “Beloved Friend of Little Waifs”…I did a test on that unit, and you have to know the authors…you get the pic...ture. Anyway, the unit was called Faith and Hope, but it was mainly on faith. 

Faith. That intangible, nonphysical quality that is somehow both those things, and yet, its effect is very tangible. Just ask George Mueller.

At one point in his life, he spent time in jail for collecting tax money and spending it on himself. At another, the same man was regularly handling hundreds and thousands of dollars—and spending it all on friendless little waifs. 

Anybody who hasn’t experienced firsthand the life-changing, world-turning-upside-down-and-inside-out effect of salvation would not be able to reconcile the former criminal with the sudden change in personality, in purpose, in every single aspect of this man’s life. He himself—speaking of his conversion—explained it very simply. 

“Here was a day when I died; died to self, my opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren or friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.” 

The old George Mueller, the former, sinful man, died. The new George Mueller, empowered by Christ within and a child of God forever and ever, was raised up. That’s what happened to him.

This new George Mueller had faith. One time in his mission for the children, they ran out of money. There were dozens of children in the orphanage, and all of them usually received a mug of milk during breakfast. And all that was left—keep in mind, there wasn’t a cent to buy any more—had run out the day before.
George Mueller prayed. The next morning, the orphans were all trooping down to breakfast. Still no milk, but they knew it was coming. It had always come before. 

Mueller wasn’t worried. He’d prayed. He’d given it to his Father, and much of the time he’d spent praying the previous night was actually thanking God in ADVANCE for the milk!
They were all just sitting down when there was a knock on the door. The milkman’s cart had broken down just outside, and seeing as the gallons and gallons of milk with him weren’t going to be able to market today because of that, the milkman offered it all, free of charge, to the orphans. More than enough for every single mug to be filled.

And that was just one of the miracles George Mueller witnessed almost daily. Some were as simple as a deck chair provided for his sick wife. Some were just a bit more astonishing—just ask the bewildered sea captain who’d informed Mr. Mueller that the fog surrounding the ship was going make their arrival late. Mueller calmly told him to step outside, and that once he did, the fog would be gone. 

Guess what? Bye-bye fog. And all because Mueller prayed and had faith like a child.

I’ve got wants and needs just like Mueller—although I daresay a little less important than caring for 50,000 orphaned children—and God knows them too. And He will answer them. Maybe not the way I want Him to, but I’ll still win out in the end no matter what happens. His will is best. He knows what I need and what I don’t need. I’m His daughter, and He loves me. (I still can’t fathom why; what have I got to offer the King of Kings?) He’s never going to leave me or forsake me. He’s written me on the palm of His Hand. My walls are continually before Him. (Is. 49:15-16.) He knows what I want most in the world, and He knows what’s best for me. (And you should see what He got me for Christmas this year! I’m still ecstatic.) And I know—I have faith—that He’ll come to take me home with Him.

One of these days.