“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” — John 15:11
We’ve spent the last several weeks walking through three simple invitations:
Seek Jesus.
Follow Faithfully.
Abide Deeply.
Each one is a step closer to the heart of Christ.
But what happens when we seek Him? When we faithfully follow His leading? When we remain close to Him day after day?
We begin to experience something the world cannot explain.
We experience joy.
Not the kind of joy that depends on circumstances.
Not the kind that disappears when life gets hard.
Not happiness that comes and goes with good news or difficult days.
The joy Jesus offers is something much deeper.
My sister, Sara Frankl, understood this kind of joy perhaps better than anyone I’ve known. Though she lived with unimaginable physical suffering, she once wrote these words as her personal definition of Joy that continue to challenge and encourage me:
“The unwavering trust that God knows what He is doing and blessed me with the opportunity to be part of it. Not despite what is happening in my life, but because of it. When everything earthly feels heavy, He gives me an internal lightness that can’t be touched.”
What a beautiful definition.
Notice that Sara never says joy is pretending life isn’t hard.
She doesn’t ignore the heaviness.
She acknowledges it.
“When everything earthly feels heavy…”
She knew heavy days.
She knew unanswered prayers.
She knew physical pain.
She knew disappointment.
Yet she also knew something greater.
She knew the One who carried her through every moment.
I’ve often said that joy is a focus, not a feeling.
The more I think about it, the more I realize joy is also the fruit of trust.
When I trust that God is who He says He is…
When I trust His timing…
When I trust His wisdom…
When I trust that He is writing a story greater than I can see…
Joy begins to grow, even when my circumstances don’t change.
That doesn’t mean we always feel joyful.
There were days during my cancer journey when I didn’t feel joyful.
There are still days when life feels heavy. When tears spill over.
But joy was never dependent on how I felt.
Joy came from knowing that Christ was walking with me.
Jesus told His disciples in John 15 to abide in Him, just as branches remain connected to the vine. Then He immediately spoke about joy.
That isn’t an accident.
Joy isn’t something we strive to produce.
Joy is the natural fruit of remaining connected to Jesus.
The closer we stay to Him, the more His joy becomes our strength.
So perhaps today the question isn’t, “How can I be happier?”
Perhaps the better question is, “Where is my trust?”
Because wherever trust in Christ grows deeper, joy follows.
Not because life suddenly becomes easy.
But because Jesus is enough.
No matter what adventure lies ahead.
This Week’s Challenge
Instead of asking God to remove every difficult circumstance, ask Him to deepen your trust.
Watch for moments where He reminds you that He is present, faithful, and working—even when you cannot yet see the whole picture.
You may discover what Sara discovered years ago:
That even when everything around you feels heavy, Christ can give you an internal lightness that nothing on earth can touch.
Choose Joy.
Not because life is easy.
But because Jesus is faithful.
Reflection
- Where is God inviting you to trust Him more deeply today?
- What circumstance have you been measuring by your feelings instead of His faithfulness?
- How might abiding in Christ change your perspective this week?
May we continue to seek Him, follow Him, abide in Him…
…and discover the joy that only He can give.
With love and joy,
Laura