Sweat poured from my forehead as I shooed away mosquitos. Through the sticky humidity, a friend—a native of the island—and I pressed on through the dusty dirt country roads in the island of Mindanao, Philippines.

But what was also warm, yet sweet, was the hug and peck on the cheek as I embraced a small, frail woman who greeted us outside her nipa hut. “Welcome beautiful visitor,” she said.

We sat on a rock nearby observing her at work. She brought small bowls of rice to feed the children who came from other nipa huts around the area. They gathered outside her tiny dwelling with nearly nothing in it.

But the richness of her faith and commitment overflowed.

In the midst of the humid, scorching heat, she fed them. They sang songs, and then she nourished their souls with Bible lessons.

I forgot about the discomfort of the outdoors as I listened and observed her joy, her passion and patience with those little ones.

As we were about to leave and head to our next stop in our missions’ trip, I hugged her. “I admire you,” I said, “You have so little and give so much.”

She gave a shy giggle. “When you have Jesus, you have enough,” she said.

Gulp. Can that be so? Can Jesus really be enough?

Here are three questions to determine if He’s truly enough for us:

1. If we lost all we valued in this world, can we still declare we believe and trust in Him?
2. If our plans fail, our heart is broken and our future looks bleak, will contentment still fill our hearts?
3. If His ways contradict ours, will we still embrace joy?

And if we had nothing, can we repeat what Habakkuk declares?

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to go on the heights. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Jesus is our strength.

When all we value is gone, He is our strength. When our weakness can’t be ignored, He is our strength. When nothing produces fruit in our life, His strength is enough. And in that power and strength, He gives us what we need; the feet to keep on walking, the diligence to stay on track, the ability to focus on Him, and the boldness to refuse defeat and begin walking in high places.

And in that journey, victory greets us when we declare: “Whom do I have in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:25-26).