Minnie
and George Lacy were faced with some questions: “Is Jesus enough? Is our
relationship with Christ sufficient to sustain us? Will He be enough to help us
want to go on living? Does He care?”
While
serving as missionaries in 1904, the Lacys’ youngest daughter fell ill. Then in
rapid succession, all five of their children died from scarlet fever, none
living to see the new year. In letters to the mission board George Lacy wrote
about their deep loneliness and grief: “Sometimes it seems more than we can
bear.” But then he added, “The Lord is with us and is wonderfully helping us.”
In this, their darkest time, they found that Jesus was near and He was enough.
Many
of us will face moments when we will wonder if we can go on. If our health
fails, if our job disappears, if we lose those closest to us, will we find our
relationship with the Lord real enough to keep us pressing forward?
The
psalmist reminds us of God’s presence and faithfulness (Ps. 30). When he was
deeply depressed, he cried out, “Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be
my helper!” (v.10). God gave Him healing and comfort (vv.2-3).
As
believers in Jesus, we will never lack what we need to persevere. The Lord will
always be near.