I heard a quote the other day that caught my attention. It goes something like this, “You’ll never know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” Being at the end of oneself can sometimes be the best place to be. In other words, Jesus really is enough.
Not having enough is sort of a theme for the people we serve at our two shelters. Most of them come in with little more than the clothes on their backs. It is our privilege to help them and tell them about Jesus. No, He doesn’t magically fulfill all our material needs and wants, but it is amazing how our perspective can change when we get to know the Savior.
I was talking to one of our graduates of the women’s New Beginning program and she told me her story. Julie had grown up with plenty … and then some. Her family owned horses in south Texas and she was a very successful equestrian. She competed and won several national events. She went to Texas A&M university and had made quite a life for herself. Unfortunately, it didn’t include Jesus.
When the drinking had worn out her family and friends, her sister told her that Faith Refuge was her last shot at getting her life back. If that didn’t work, she was on her own.
None of her past experiences, wealth, degrees or trophies were going to get her out of this hole. Jesus was all she had. And He was enough. Julie changed so much over the next few weeks that her own sister didn’t recognize her when she came back for a visit. Julie said, “She passed right by me in the hall.”
She gave her all to the program, just like she did to riding horses and God blessed her mightily. She graduated from the program and got a job, a car and her own apartment. Nothing fancy, but it was a start.
She told me that the apartment seemed like a mansion to her. Sitting back in her chair and gazing up at the ceiling, she said, “I never dreamed I would be content with so little. What I have now is from God. And He has made it enough.”
Now Julie works as an administrative assistant and volunteers at the shelters serving on one of our fund-raising committees. If you ask her, she’ll tell you every time, “Jesus is enough.”
