The Test of God's Faithfulness

Sunday morning in church, our pastor touched on the faithfulness of God.  He displayed the words of the great old Hymn -- Great Is Thy Faithfulness...  Indeed, God is faithful.

Pastor Burns went on to say how we love to proclaim His faithfulness in those times of when everything is going well!  Yes, for years, I heartily sang Great Is Thy Faithfulness, and could think through many things in my life where I saw He had provided.

The promise of His faithfulness is not one that is particularly important when "all is well", but rather, when, human speaking, all is NOT well!

It is during this time of our lives that we must look to His promised faithfulness for hope of deliverance -- that is the surety of deliverance!

We continue through such a time in our lives right now.  We see possibilities of jobs, and we know this is a difficult time in the job market, humanly speaking.  Sometimes, even most times, God uses those "human possibilities" to provide deliverance.  But in those times, it is possible for the world to see the outcome, and explain it away -- an explanation absent the Sovereign God.

What if God decides to make His deliverance completely and profoundly His own Divine Deliverance in such a way that no careful observer can simply dismiss His Mighty Hand?  In that case, He must eliminate all human possibilities, and provide by an unmistakably miraculous means!

For those not already familiar with this great man of God, please permit me to introduce George Mueller.  Mr Mueller was a man who trusted in God's faithfulness like few others.  He believed that God had called him to open orphanages, yet he did not have funds with which to build them.  Of course, God did not call him to do something without also providing the means.  Yes, George Mueller was able to build and maintain many orphanages, and God blessed him for his trust.  However, God did not see fit to provide the sort of abundance that we might have envisioned.  He provided enough, and on time.

There was one particular evening when they were sitting down to eat dinner -- at an empty table.  And, George bowed to thank God for His provision.  While he was still in prayer, there was a knock at the door.  The driver of a truck full of baked goods had a dilemma -- his truck had broken down, and he had all this bread that was going to go to waste.  God provided, and right on time.

Do I want to be George Mueller?  Waiting for God's provision to come at that very last possible moment?  Well, no, that is very scary.  However, if that is the way God is going to provide, then may He receive the glory!

This waiting on God is a test of our trust, but it is equally a test of God's faithfulness.  How many promises would be broken if He is not faithful?  Of course, if He is not faithful, then we have many more problems than mere broken promises...

Heavenly Father, Divine Provider, please don't require of me the faith that George Mueller demonstrated!  Yet, if that is what you require, please help me and my family to trust in your Great Faithfulness!  Thank you in advance for whatever it is You have already planned to do!