Joy. It’s one of those things that everyone wants, yet often feels impossible to attain, like catching smoke with your bare hands. A friend once commented, “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced joy.” Does that resonate with you? If so, I have good news for you! It does not have to be your story. God offers you a joy filled life!
In John 15:10-11 (ESV), Jesus states, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Jesus wants you to have FULL joy. He offers you full joy. The question is, are you ready to receive it?
How do I receive it, you may ask? Great question. Jesus breaks it down into three steps. First, keep His commandments. Matthew 22:36-40 tells us that these are summarized as loving God and loving others. This includes obedience to commands like forgiving others, pursuing a holy life, considering the needs of others as more important than your own, and letting no unwholesome word come out of your mouth. Easy, huh?
If that sounds impossible, well it is. Earlier in John 15, in verse 5, Jesus informs, “...apart from me you can do nothing.” But then, in verses 7-8 he declares, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” The bottom line here is that you can’t obey God’s commands apart from His help, but He offers to help you bear a fruitful, joy filled life for His kingdom. Consistently obeying God’s commands IS possible with His help.
You may say, “But you don’t understand how stuck I feel! I’ve tried obeying and I just keep falling into the same sin over and over again!” That’s tough. No one likes feeling stuck. It can be difficult to discern what is keeping us from obedience, what is keeping us from joy. There can be many factors that lead to that stuck feeling.
Begin by asking yourself these questions:
Are my thoughts more focused on myself or God and others?
How often do I confront and confess sin in my own life?
Am I asking God to show me where I am disobeying and asking for His help to obey?
As we obey God’s commands, Jesus promises us that we will abide, or literally remain, in His love. Does this mean that He doesn’t love us when we disobey? No, His love is always steadfast. However, our closeness and connection to Him feels off when we are being disobedient to His Word. Put simply, He created us to feel icky when we disobey. Think about the toddler who knows he has done something wrong. He cowers in the corner of the room because he senses tension in his relationship with his parents. Whether we are aware of it or not, at times we inwardly cower away from God when we have disobeyed. This feels like the opposite of abiding in God’s love. Romans 2:4 gives us the beautiful news that, “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.” Truly, the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit is saying, “I don’t want you to feel icky anymore! I long to be close to you! Obey me and I will give you joy!”
Does full joy mean no trials, troubles, or tribulations in life? AKA, no traffic, tension, or tragedy? No, we are promised in John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation.” Joy is still possible in the midst of difficulty. That verse finishes with the great news, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” With God’s help, Jesus promises us that as we obey His commands, we abide in His love, and experience His full joy!
You, like many people, may say, “I want that joy, but I just feel stuck!” As a result, you may feel some anxiety or depression. If you live in the Holly Springs, NC area, we would be honored to walk alongside you at Living Water Counseling as you navigate what might be leading to those stuck feelings. God wants you to feel infused with His joy!
