“That Which . . . Had Been Long Looked For”

GEORGE MÜLLER

George Müller (1805–1898) exercised an audacious faith. It was a faith that started with the German evangelist’s total belief in the sufficiency and power of his God. For Müller that belief inspired him to pray for everything that he needed in life. Never has the command of Christ in prayer—“and give us this day, our daily bread”—been more completely obeyed and trusted in an individual’s life.

And it wasn’t just in Müller’s personal life and church that these prayers came to bear fruit. In 1836, alongside his wife Susannah, Müller established the Ashley Downs orphanage in Bristol, England. While it was an uncommon thing for a minister to offer such kind treatment to orphans, the uncommon character of Müller went further than defying the norms of society. Müller didn’t believe in asking for financial support or entering into debt; rather, the kindly preacher would get down on his knees, close his eyes, and begin praying.

It might come in a milkman unexpectedly bringing milk by for the children, a rich woman feeling compelled to send a donation, or any of the other hundred acts of providence that supplied and sustained Müller’s years of service. He kept a detailed diary of his prayers, charting out his requests and anxieties, then waiting to watch God answer his prayers.

It’s a remarkable and expansive document, charting years of prayers and years of answers. Times were not always easy for Müller. Many occasions saw the orphan staring at empty cupboards, wondering where the next meal was going to come from. And while some of the donations came from rich individuals, the majority of the gifts seem to have come from, what Müller calls, “laborers.” These were the individuals toiling in the fields, working with their hands, and who took seriously the command to “lay up not treasures for yourself here on earth” and gave their last alms to the poor.

He kept detailed records of the gifts, showing where each shilling and pence was spent—he took seriously the call to steward well what he had been given. In the end, Müller watched as more than £100,000 came in to build the five orphanages. He cared for more than 10,000 orphans in his lifetime and established 117 schools that offered Christian educations to more than 120,000 children. Here is a man’s life of good works, anchored in his faith.

Feb. 7. This day has been one of the most remarkable days as it regards the funds. There was no money in hand. I was waiting upon God. I had asked him repeatedly, but no supplies came. Brother T. called, between eleven and twelve o’clock, to tell me that about one pound two shillings would be needed, to take in bread for the three houses and to meet the other expenses; but we had only two shillings ninepence, which yesterday had been taken out of the boxes in the Orphan Houses. He went to Clifton to make arrangements for the reception of the three orphans of our sister Loader, who fell asleep on the 4th; for, though we have no funds in hand, the work goes on, and our confidence is not diminished. I therefore requested him to call, on his way back from Clifton, to see whether the Lord might have sent any money in the mean time.

When he came I had received nothing, but one of the laborers, having five shillings of his own, gave it. It was now four o’clock. I knew not how the sisters had got through the day. Toward the close of the day I went to the Girls’ Orphan House, to meet with the brethren for prayer. When I arrived there I found that a box had come for me from Barnstable. The carriage was paid, else there would have been no money to pay for it. (See how the Lord’s hand is in the smallest matters!) The box was opened, and it contained, in a letter from a sister, ten pounds, of which eight pounds was for the orphans, and two pounds for the Bible Fund; from brethren at Barnstable, two pounds eleven shillings two pence; and from another brother, five shillings. Besides this, there were in the box four yards of merino, three pairs of new shoes, two pairs of new socks; also six books for sale; likewise a gold pencil-case, two gold rings, two gold drops of earrings, a necklace, and a silver pencil-case . . .

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August 22. In my morning walk, when I was reminding the Lord of our need, I felt assured that he would send help this day. My assurance sprang from our need; for there seemed no way to get through the day without help being sent. After breakfast I considered whether there was anything which might be turned into money for the dear children. Among other things there came under my hands a number of religious pamphlets which had been given for the benefit of the orphans; but all seemed not nearly enough to meet the necessities of the day. In this our deep poverty, after I had gathered together the few things for sale, a sister, who earns her bread by the labor of her hands, brought eighty-two pounds. This sister had seen it to be binding upon believers in our Lord Jesus to act out his commandments: “Sell that ye have [sell your possessions] and give alms,” Luke xii. 33; and “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,” Matt. vi. 19. Accordingly, she had drawn her money out of the bank and stocks, being two hundred and fifty pounds, and had brought it to me at three different times, for the benefit of the orphans, the Bible, missionary, and school fund, and the poor saints. About two months ago she brought me one hundred pounds more, being the produce of some other possession which she had sold, the half of which was to be used for the school Bible, and missionary fund, and the other half for the poor saints. This eighty-two pounds which she has brought to-day is the produce of the sale of her last earthly possession. [At the time I am preparing this fifth edition for the press, more than sixteen years have passed away, and this sister has never expressed the least regret as to the step she took, but goes on quietly laboring with her hands to earn her bread.]