PETER’S ANSWER: 1 PETER chapter 5 verse 7 – ‘Cast all your care (anxiety) upon Him, for He cares for you.’

George Muller, the well-known 19th century Christian evangelist and director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, UK, wrote,

‘Where ANXIETY begins, FAITH ends; where FAITH begins, ANXIETY ends.’

George cared for 10,024 orphans during his lifetime and provided educational opportunities for them. He also established 117 schools, which offered Christian education for more than 120,000 children. Throughout all this, Muller never made any requests for financial support, nor did he go into debt! Many times he received unsolicited food donations, sometimes only hours before they were needed to feed hungry children! This strengthened his faith in God.

He was in constant prayer to God that He would touch the hearts of rich sponsors to make provision for the children. On one occasion he was giving thanks for breakfast, when there was no food at all on the table. As he finished praying, the local baker knocked on the door of the orphanage and provided enough bread to satisfy everyone! At the same time, the milkman’s cart had broken down outside the front door of the orphanage and he gave them as much fresh milk as they needed, rather than see it go to waste! On yet another occasion, a Christian acquaintance gave him £2000, more than enough to re-furnish the orphanage. He simply cast all his care on God to supply his specific needs and God never let him down! The Trust that was set up after his death shunned fund-raising activities and seeks money through prayer to God alone!

A hymn writer challenges us to confront our anxieties in the same spirit:

‘All your anxiety, all your care, bring to the Mercy Seat, leave it there;
Never a burden He cannot bear, never a Friend like Jesus!’