Full Joy | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus

“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.” —John 15:10-11

Can someone please fix the economy because these gas prices are cray-cray. I do have to say, though, that selling my right arm and my dog in order to fill my tank is still kinda worth it. Don’t you just love that moment when you turn the ignition and that little indicator on your dashboard slides ALL the way to the letter F? Even better when it goes beyond the F. Like you’re invincible. Like you could drive forever and never have to stop at Wawa again.

Having a full tank feels good.

Emptiness on the other hand… not so much. But this is the way God designed things to be. Would the warmth of the sun be comforting if we never knew what it was like to be cold? And how would we experience the delight of fullness if we never knew what it was like to be empty?

Jesus was there at the beginning, designing and breathing all things into existence (John 1:1-3), including the polarities we experience: light and darkness, exhaustion and energy, hunger and satisfaction. They teach us about our state of being in comparison to a totally self-sustaining God—a God to whom darkness is as light (Psalm 139:12), a God who never grows tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28), a God who needs no food for survival.

Jesus knew that the human soul was created to live in perfect harmony with its creator. He knew because He’s the one who made it that way. Sin entered the picture and messed everything up so now, every human soul has a gaping hole that we all spend excessive amounts of energy, time and money trying to fill.

This is what I LOVE about John 15:11. Jesus doesn’t ignore our emptiness. He doesn’t beat around the bush but faces it head on. I can hear Him saying it so clearly, Hey, I’m saying all this stuff to you because this is how my joy will make its way into your empty heart. I want you to experience what it feels like to be full, but here’s the thing— my joy is the only thing that can fill you.

That word “full” in verse 11— “that your joy may be full”— means to level up a hollow place or to fill to the brim. It’s a strong word used for when a promise is fulfilled or when a hope is brought to realization. It means to render perfect or carry through all the way to the end. Jesus didn’t use this strong word by accident. What He’s offering here is a liberal supply of His joy for the purpose of making us whole in every way.

Is your tank empty today, Sister? Mine too. Let’s go to the one who made our tanks in the first place. The only one who has the resources to fill them. We can be vulnerable with Him, tell Him what’s weighing us down and sucking us dry. We can abide in His love by remembering what He went through to make things right between us. We can abide in His love by following His commands with a trusting heart. We can face the day with hope because we belong to a generous joy-giver. And in Him, we are joyful.

For Your Journal

Find It:

In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.

“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.” —John 15:10-11

Fix It:

In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:

FULL JOY

Abide in His Love

Feel It:

In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit so that you begin to feel like the new person you’re becoming in Christ. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.

Dear Jesus, my tank is running low today. It seems like when I get to this point, I try to fill the emptiness with other things… but nothing seems to work. I want to stop right now to acknowledge that you are the maker of my heart. You know where my empty places are, and you alone are able to fill me to completion. Help me to look to you today for fulfillment, and let me feel the fullness of your love! As I abide in your love, let joy be the outcome. And may others be impacted by your joy flowing through me today. Amen!