Muller

George Muller, of course, founded three orphanages in England in the 19th century that housed thousands of children. It took great sums of money to operate these institutions. But Muller refused to ask for money from anyone except the Lord. He comments on a most difficult period: "Of all the seasons that I had ever passed through since I had been living in this way, up to that time, I never knew any period in my faith was tried so sharply as during the four months from December 12 1841 to April 12 1842."

Although the children never wanted for food or clothing, there were some very narrow escapes during this time. For example, on February 8, 1842, there was enough food for that day, but no money to buy any food for the next day. Muller though that they had never been poorer. He commented, "Truly we are poorer than ever; but, through grace, my eyes look not at the empty stores and the empty purse, but to the riches of the Lord only." Next morning Muller walked to the orphanages to see how God would meet their need, only to find that it had already been met. A Christian businessman was that morning walking to his place of employment when the thought came to him that the children in the orphanages might be in need. So he thought that in the evening he would go visit the homes to see what he could do. But he later explained, "I could not go any further and felt constrained to go back." He went directly to the orphanages and gave them enough money for two days of food.