…and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
George Mueller was a man with great faith in God. He cared for thousands of children in Great Britain in the late 1800’s through the establishment of homes and schools to care for orphans. He relied on God for everything and as a result, God used him in great ways. Mueller lived for the glory of God and left a legacy that is a testament to God’s faithfulness.
This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.
The autobiography of George Mueller is one of my favorites and I have read it numerous times. I really enjoy reading Christian biographies and autobiographies such as Mueller’s for hope, encouragement, inspiration and motivation. These true stories inspire me to have faith that God can use me in great ways too.
However, I must confess that anxiety is an ongoing struggle for me. Sometimes my faith falters and it is hard to resist the temptation to worry. This is an area of weakness for me, but when I’m anxious God is faithful to remind me of His flawless track record in my life. He renews my faith and trust in Him.
I can’t help but wonder if George Mueller was tempted by anxiety, because he had to trust God for such great things. I wonder if this quote was a personal reminder for him that the beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, because anxiety is the antithesis of faith.
True faith ends anxiety because we believe that God is true to His character and Word.
We can learn 3 important lessons from Mueller’s life that were foundational to his faith in God.
1) Find your joy in the Lord.
Where do you look for joy in your life? George Mueller made it his goal to always find his joy in the Lord rather than anyone or anything else.
Nehemiah 8:10 says, “…the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (NLT)
Psalm 92:4 says, “For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD…” (NIV)
Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (NIV)
The first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day is to have my soul happy in the Lord. –George Mueller
2) Trust God to provide.
George Mueller chose to live by faith and he trusted God completely for everything.
If we have anxiety, we most likely are not trusting the Lord and placing our faith in God.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (NIV)
To know God is to love, trust and have faith in Him. How much faith and trust would we place in someone we didn’t know very well? Probably not much.
Developing trust with someone happens as we spend time with them and it works the same way with God.
Mueller made it his ambition to know God. He spent hours reading and studying the Bible. Then he sought to apply the principles that he learned to his life. We can do the same.
Our faith and trust in God can grow over time as we see His faithfulness in our lives.
3) Pray continuously.
George Mueller prayed for everything. No request was too small or too large. He brought every petition to the Lord.
The Bible tells us that prayer is the remedy for anxiety and the means for receiving the peace of God.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)
Thankfully as Christians, we can bring our requests to God in the name of Jesus Christ. We can receive His peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ.
We can strengthen our faith and defeat anxiety by finding our joy in the Lord, trusting Him and praying for everything.
Do you have a strong faith in God? Do you ever struggle with anxiety?
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Editor’s Note: This article deals with normal anxiety, not clinical anxiety which needs special treatment. I encourage those with deeper anxiety issues to seek professional help and possibly treatment through medication. If you have questions about the issue of Christians using medications in this way, check out my podcast Can a Christian Take Brain Chemistry Medications?
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The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. –George Mueller | CLICK TO TWEET
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