Look What The Lord Has Done
The Testimony of George A. Young
(19th Century)
Little is known of George A. Young. In fact, the exact date of his birth and death are uncertain. To earn a living, he did carpenter work, but his call and passion was to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who would listen. Few people heard of him during his lifetime, he made no “claim to fame.”
Finances were very tight in the Young household. Most of the time the family had enough money for just that day. It was a real struggle for George to support his wife and family, but he did not back down on his call to preach the message of Jesus Christ. And through the years, the Lord provided for them exactly what was needed.
George’s call to share the truth of God’s Word with the lost did not make him friends. In fact, some turned against him because of the conviction that the Word of God worked in their hearts. They did not want to change and therefore did not want to hear about the Lord Jesus Christ and what He wanted and could do in their lives. In rejecting the Lord, they rejected the message and also rejected George himself.
Finances were very tight in the Young household. Most of the time the family had enough money for just that day. It was a real struggle for George to support his wife and family, but he did not back down on his call to preach the message of Jesus Christ. And through the years, the Lord provided for them exactly what was needed.
George’s call to share the truth of God’s Word with the lost did not make him friends. In fact, some turned against him because of the conviction that the Word of God worked in their hearts. They did not want to change and therefore did not want to hear about the Lord Jesus Christ and what He wanted and could do in their lives. In rejecting the Lord, they rejected the message and also rejected George himself.
After many years of scrimping and saving, George was able to build, with his own hands, a simple little house for his family to call their own home. They were thankful to the Lord for everything that He had provided for them. One weekend, George was to preach in a church a few towns away. His entire family went with him and they stayed in that town through the entirety of the meetings. When they returned home, they found that some of the towns people who hated George and his message of Jesus Christ had burnt their new little house to the ground. They lost everything but their lives.
Here is the beauty of this “tragic” story. George continued in his service to the Lord. He continued seeking Him and serving Him. He did not allow the deeds of the lost to hinder his call by the Lord to share truth of the power of Jesus’ blood to forgive sin. In fact, George took the persecution and struggles he faced because of his obedience to the Lord, and he wrote a song. This song is still sung today, all these years later. George’s song speaks of the care of God, the leading of God. It speaks of the difficulties of life that the Lord leads his children through, but always returns to the faithfulness of God to stay with His children through the difficulty and out the other side. It is a song that reminds us of Psalm 23 and the care of the Shepherd for His sheep, giving rest and comfort to the tired. Its words remind us that the Lord will give songs in the night seasons (difficult times) – songs of hope that minister strength to the hurting heart. George reminds us of Isaiah 43:2 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” And his message is that through it all, God is always leading those who are willing to be lead.
Here is the beauty of this “tragic” story. George continued in his service to the Lord. He continued seeking Him and serving Him. He did not allow the deeds of the lost to hinder his call by the Lord to share truth of the power of Jesus’ blood to forgive sin. In fact, George took the persecution and struggles he faced because of his obedience to the Lord, and he wrote a song. This song is still sung today, all these years later. George’s song speaks of the care of God, the leading of God. It speaks of the difficulties of life that the Lord leads his children through, but always returns to the faithfulness of God to stay with His children through the difficulty and out the other side. It is a song that reminds us of Psalm 23 and the care of the Shepherd for His sheep, giving rest and comfort to the tired. Its words remind us that the Lord will give songs in the night seasons (difficult times) – songs of hope that minister strength to the hurting heart. George reminds us of Isaiah 43:2 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” And his message is that through it all, God is always leading those who are willing to be lead.
Are you being persecuted for your stand for Christ? Are you facing times of difficulty because of your obedience to His Word? If not today, you will tomorrow. Remember dear Christian, none of this is a surprise to God. He is with you through the fire. May George Young’s song help you keep your focus on the Lord and His plan for you. May it encourage you to trust Him as God leads you along.
God Leads Us Along
George A Young
In shady green pastures, so rich and so sweet,
God leads His dear children along;
Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,
God leads His dear children along.
Chorus
Some through the water, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.
Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
God leads His dear children along;
Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,
God leads His dear children along.
Through sorrow befall us and evil oppose,
God leads His dear children along;
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,
God leads His dear children along.
Away from the mire, and away from the clay,
God leads His dear children along;
Away up in glory, eternity’s day,
God leads His dear children along.
God leads His dear children along;
Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,
God leads His dear children along.
Chorus
Some through the water, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.
Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
God leads His dear children along;
Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,
God leads His dear children along.
Through sorrow befall us and evil oppose,
God leads His dear children along;
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,
God leads His dear children along.
Away from the mire, and away from the clay,
God leads His dear children along;
Away up in glory, eternity’s day,
God leads His dear children along.