Dear Friends,

Seeking to trust God on a daily basis is at the heart of what it means to live in relationship with Him.  However, in our current well-fed, well-entertained, well-heeled culture, honest opportunities to trust God can become covered over easily by solutions that are close at hand and seem obvious.

I love to remember Bill Bright’s statement, “what an opportunity to trust God!” when I come up against a challenge that I am tempted to somehow sidestep, if I can.  And, when I face challenges that truly leave me void of resources to counter them, his words bring me back to the beauty and grace of simply believing God.

The life of George Muller (the pastor and founder of orphanages in 19th century Bristol, England) is one continuous example of a person trusting God.  Muller vowed never to advertise the needs of the orphanages, which served literally thousands of children in the wake of cholera epidemics of the mid 1800s.  Muller put his faith in God’s provision alone, and he lived by the verse, “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10b)  

One article said, “Prayer was George Muller’s answer to every problem, even when it came to influencing the forces of nature.” The article went on to describe how, when Muller and his wife were travelling by ship and due in port by a specific day, they ran into a dense fog which slowed them considerably.  He told the captain of the ship, “My eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God, who controls every circumstance of my life.”  After praying in the ship’s chart-room, he and the captain went out to discover that the fog had lifted.  

I don’t know about you, but I am constantly challenged to live out of my belief that God truly controls everything and that seeking Him first in a problem ought to be my most habitual and natural reaction.  

Sometimes, life’s challenges stop me short, and I remember to trust God because it’s the only thing left to do.  However, my prayer is that, more and more, I will encounter the challenges in life that may have “other” answers with a heart that seeks God first and that trusts Him to fill the situation with His glory.

I pray today that, whatever challenges you face, you will remember that they are an opportunity for you to join the company of those who trust God.

Blessings,

Ron