My joy will remain

“There things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. – John 15.11

Joylessness is a terrible way of life. You can see it in the faces of so many people on the street. I meet so many people when I am out walking who are downcast and look like their dog just died.

Sadly, there are a lot of Christians who live the same kind of Sad Sack lives. No matter what happens they never seem to be able to muster up the energy for a smile. No news seems to be good enough for them. Sadness reigns supreme. They seems like Jesus has only made their lives worse. It is no. wonder when we see folks like that that people don’t really want to hear about our Jesus.

But Jesus says we can claim the Old Testament promise that ‘the joy of the Lord is our strength’ when He tells us ‘My joy can remain with you.’ Our joy is not based on our circumstances. Our joy is based on His joy. And because it is based on the joy of Jesus our joy can be full no matter what we face today.

What does that mean?

It means that our trials today are only temporary. It means that the trials of today are not to be compared to the glories of eternity. It means that we can be joyful because we know the end result. We can live this life with joy because we know what is coming.

Now if we can only believe and act on it.