These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. – John 15:11
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. – Romans 15:13
Jesus tells his disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” This is a remarkable promise! Christ shares his own joy with us. Even on the road to the cross, Jesus speaks of joy rooted in love, obedience, and abiding in Him.
The apostle Paul echoes this hope-filled joy when he prays, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Advent joy is not shallow cheerfulness; it’s a deep confidence that God is at work, fulfilling His promises.
Are you experiencing uncomfortable feelings (or have you in the past? Maybe over finances, family tensions during the holidays, an important decision that needs to be made, etc.? Oftentimes, we try to fix things ourselves and can get increasingly overwhelmed. We need to surrender those worries to God. We can do that through prayer, journaling, or speaking with a pastor or trusted Christian friend. When we lean into trusting God (rather than controlling our outcomes) a quiet but real joy replaces our tension and nervousness. That true, biblical joy comes when we abide in Christ and trust the God of hope, allowing Him to fill us with joy and peace through faith.
As we wait for Christ’s coming – both remembered at Christmas and anticipated in glory – we are reminded that joy grows as we trust, hope, and remain connected to Him.