Complete Joy

Complete Joy

Read: John 15:9-17

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:11

“Joy is the experience of knowing you are unconditionally loved.”

—Henri Nouwen

IN WORD Jesus’ intent is for every Christian to have joy. Why then do so many of us struggle to have it? What circumstances or thoughts are we allowing to steal the joy we’re supposed to have?

We allow the worries of life to consume us and rob us of joy. We allow broken relationships to deprive us of that contentment of spirit that comes with genuine joy. We stress over possibilities and obsess about those who have wronged us. We get absorbed in the past and preoccupied with the future, and we miss the present joy He offers us. What is His remedy? What is the “this” that He told His disciples in verse 11 would result in their joy?

When Jesus speaks to His disciples about joy, He has just told them to remain in His love—through obedience (vv. 9-10). And He goes on to tell them to love each other as He has loved them (v. 12). It isn’t a suggestion; it’s a command. And He even defines love for them. It’s the kind of attitude toward another that would cause someone to lay down his life (v. 13). That’s love. And Jesus orders His disciples to have it. The result will be joyful lives. It isn’t a difficult formula in principle—just in practice.

IN DEED When we do not have joy in our lives, it is because we have left something out of the formula. We have not remembered the wealth of Jesus’ love; or we have not loved others as extravagantly as He has loved us.

It seems as if it should be more difficult than this. We think that to have joy, something must happen to change our circumstances. Or something must heal our past wounds. So we focus on the circumstances, the wounds, or some other source of discontent. All the while, Jesus asks us to look past the surface of our joylessness and major on love. The circumstances, the wounds, and all other sources of discontent will soon be changed or become irrelevant. Joy will overcome them. And our joy will be complete.