Do but stand still in the hour of trial, and you will see the

“Do but stand still in the hour of trial, and you will see the help of God, if you trust in Him. But there is so often a forsaking the ways of the Lord in the hour of trial, and thus the food of faith, the means whereby our faith may be increased, is lost.” So spoke George Müller, a man of prayer and faith, who tended orphans in England without asking men for aid, but depending wholly upon God. His words are not born of theory, but of a life lived in absolute reliance on divine providence. Here he teaches a paradox: that the greatest growth of faith does not come in ease, but in the crucible of trial; yet many, instead of standing still and waiting on God, forsake His way, and so lose the nourishment that would have strengthened their souls.

The ancients also knew this truth. When the Israelites stood before the Red Sea, with Pharaoh’s army pressing behind, they trembled in fear. Yet Moses cried, “Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” It was in that hour of terror that the waters parted, and deliverance came. Had they fled into the desert or surrendered to Egypt, they would have lost the very miracle that became the foundation of their faith. Müller’s words echo this ancient scene: to stand still in the trial is to allow God to reveal Himself as helper, sustainer, and savior.

But man’s heart is restless. In the hour of testing, when loss presses, when hunger gnaws, when fear whispers, many abandon trust and turn to their own schemes. They rush to solve by their strength what God intends to solve by His hand. In doing so, they rob themselves of the “food of faith”—those daily testimonies that nourish the soul and teach us that God is faithful. The trial, instead of being a place of growth, becomes a place of failure. The very opportunity for deeper confidence in God is lost.

Consider Müller himself, who cared for thousands of orphans though he had no wealth of his own. There were days when the cupboards were bare, when the children sat at tables with no bread before them. Yet Müller would pray, and provision would come—sometimes in the form of a baker knocking at the door, sometimes in milk delivered by cart just as the children bowed their heads. Each of these trials, endured with stillness and trust, became “food of faith.” The children learned that God answers, and Müller’s own faith grew ever stronger. Had he forsaken prayer for worldly striving, such testimonies would never have been written on the pages of history.

History offers us another witness: Martin Luther at Worms. Standing before emperor and council, threatened with excommunication and death, his feelings surely urged retreat. Yet he stood still, declaring he could do no other but trust in God’s Word. From that hour of trial sprang not only his deliverance, but the strengthening of countless others who saw that God sustains the faithful. Trials become furnaces, and those who endure in trust emerge refined, while those who forsake the flame lose the chance to be strengthened.

The lesson is clear: when trials come, do not flee into fear, nor forsake the ways of God for the devices of man. To “stand still” is not to do nothing, but to anchor yourself in trust, waiting upon God’s provision. Each trial, if endured faithfully, becomes nourishment—food for your soul, proof that your faith is not in vain. But if you surrender to panic, you rob yourself of growth, and your soul remains weak.

Practical actions follow. When the next trial comes—whether of sickness, loss, or fear—pause before you act. Lift your eyes and remember Müller’s counsel: stand still. Pray with steadfastness, hold to God’s promises, and resist the temptation to forsake His way. Keep a record of the times God delivers you, for these become your “food of faith” in future storms. Share these testimonies with others, that they too may be strengthened. For every trial faithfully endured is a seed of courage for the days ahead.

Thus George Müller’s words shine like a torch through the centuries: stand still in the hour of trial, and trust in God. For in doing so, you will not only see His help, but you will feed your soul with faith that grows ever stronger. And so I say to you: when darkness presses, do not abandon the light. Wait, endure, trust—and you will see the hand of God move in ways more wondrous than your fears could ever imagine.