Why We Need A Vision Bigger Than Homeschooling

As the young boy was handed the warm soup and bread, he knew his life had changed. A street urchin once wandering the filthy alleys of Bristol, the lad had found his way to the Boy’s Orphan House—just one of the ten thousand orphans who would find a new life because of the vision and prayers of German-born pastor George Muller

Fast forward two hundred years to homeschool families around America. Families like yours; families like mine. What does George Muller have to teach us today?

Is Our Vision Too Small?

Despite the fact his vision changed the lives of thousands, housing orphans was never Muller’s goal. In his own words, this is the motivation that directed and shaped everything he did.

“This then, was the primary reason for establishing the orphan house, I certainly did from my heart desire to be used of God to benefit the bodies of poor children, bereaved of both parents, and seek in other respects, with the help of God, to do them hood for this life. I also particularly longed to be used by God in getting the dear orphans trained up in the fear of God; but still, the first and primary object of the work was, and still is, that God might be magnified by the fact that the orphans under my care are provided with all they need, only by prayer and faith, without any one being asked by me or my fellow-laborers, whereby it may be seen that God is faithful still, and hears prayer still.”¹

The fire in George Muller’s bones was a monument he could point his doubting Christian brothers to and say, “See, the living God still hears prayer.” One of my favorite passages of Scripture, Psalm 78, commands, “We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done… That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments…” (Psalm 78:4, 7.) The reason we take full responsibility for the training of our children is not to give them a superior education, not to spend their formative years with them, not to ease any mommy guilt, but to teach them the praises and strength of the Lord, so that they might set their hope in Him. Such a vision is much bigger than homeschooling, but it will be the flame warming our hearts when the chill of discouragement and criticism (from either ourselves or others) would break us. Will trials come? Yes. One of our greatest errors as human beings is thinking obedience to God immunizes us from hardship. Muller himself often hit his knees, pleading for God to bring him and his fellow workers through one difficulty after another—and He did. That same God still lives and still seeks trusting-not trial-free-hearts that will look to Him to meet every need. Bring those needs to Him, so He can bring Himself glory through your children. There is no greater vision we can have, and no greater vision we can give to our children, that they in turn can pass on to their children.

Kenzi Knapp is a follower of Christ, homeschool graduate and student of history. A fourth generation Missourian she enjoys writing about daily life enrolled in Gods great course of faith and His story throughout the ages at her blog, Honey Rock Hills.

¹ Life of Trust, George Muller, 1898, pg. 127-128