“These things I have spoken to you, so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” ( John 15:11).

In 2022, when Kimboti, her eight children, and a pregnant neighbor were forcibly taken from their home village by a militant army and marched deep into the forest, they feared they would be killed. After two harrowing days, the guard finally released them. They ran for hours, with the older children carrying the younger ones. Today, they live in a camp for displaced people, where they receive support from the global community of Christ.

I expected to find such words in the Voice of the Martyrs’ magazine I receive monthly, but I wasn’t prepared for Kimboti’s final words: “Now I am happy, I can smile. I have food to feed my children, and that fills my heart with peace.” I set the magazine down, tears welling in my eyes, and meditated on my own joy and peace. I cannot imagine the pain and poverty of this mother of eight, living in a single hut with only a stove pot and two cupboards holding all her earthly possessions, surrounded by soil floors and tarps. Yet, she tells us she can smile—a joy that cannot be hidden or destroyed by her militant enemies.

As Christians, we understand that great achievements are impossible without faith. We recognize that prayer draws us into God’s presence, opens unseen doors, secures spiritual victories, and restores relationships. But what about joy? Why is it often so difficult to embrace, maintain, and share? Have you ever thought of joy as a responsibility? As an essential part of the Christian life for men and women who belong to the most amazing God—the most loving Savior, the Author and Finisher of our faith—who not only invites us to experience joy but also urges us to express it? (1 Thessalonians 5:16, Philippians 3:1).

I must admit, I rarely considered joy as an obligation or a command in my daily Christian walk. I often saw it as merely optional,’when” we can, but not essential. Yet, as I observed the faces and lives of my brothers and sisters in Christ, I realized that joy is inseparable from faith and a profound trust in God. This is why Scripture speaks of joy even amid famine (Habakkuk 3:18), persecution and imprisonment (Acts 5:41, 16:25), poverty (2 Corinthians 6:10), loss of possessions (Hebrews 10:34), and intense trials (1 Peter 4:12).

Joy cannot be separated from purity of heart and steadfast peace. When either is absent, joy disappears and is fleeting. I have never encountered a truly joyous person who is also anxious or angry—these emotions cannot coexist at the same time. Joy is fundamentally different from the temporary happiness brought by external gifts; it is deeply rooted in the promises and character of Christ, not merely in pleasant circumstances.

“These things I have spoken to you, so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full”, I read as I am compelled to not only receive this joy, but maintain it (John 15:11). Express it. Share it. Daily. What are ‘these things’ which Christ is talking about and making them the premise of His joy?

On the way to the Cross, He draws His friends near and speaks of the trials ahead—the hatred they will face from the world. He shares about the many rooms in the Father’s house, where He is going to prepare a place for them. He reveals the unique Way, the only Truth, and the one Life truly worth following. He promises that those who believe in Him will do even greater works than He did. He teaches them about the love shown through obeying His commandments and speaks of the coming Comforter—the Holy Spirit—who will walk beside them and guide them in understanding God. Knowing and believing these truths is essential to receiving His complete and abiding joy.

This is where I often stumble. I strive to hold onto a joy rooted in sunny days, good moods, health, and fleeting moments of ease. Yet, the lasting joy promised to those who obey, persevere, and abide in Him (John 17:13) is different. It is a joy that cannot escape us unless we lack the fullness of the Holy Spirit, for it is a fruit of His abundant presence within us.

It is not only about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we receive at salvation, but about living a life filled with Him—days when we intentionally reflect on our actions and surrender to the Spirit’s power, allowing Him to guide, influence, and govern our behavior. Days when we align our choices and decisions with the wisdom and truth Christ revealed when He taught us about all “these things” (John 15). However, when we grieve and quench the Holy Spirit through sin and rebellion, we hinder His full access to bring joy into our hearts and lives (Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19).

So, you see, the joy Christ calls us to is not something we achieve through trial and error, endless reading about happiness, or advice from well-meaning counselors. This joy is not a natural human trait that we can easily develop or sustain. It was never meant to be “our joy,” but His—a deep, enduring strength born from trusting our Lord, not just a fleeting smile.

It does not mean denying pain or hurt, nor casually planning the next safe step while eight children tug at Kimboti’s sleeve, seeking food, protection, and warmth. Kimboti has learned to rely on her Savior for her family’s immediate needs and trusts Him to sustain her.

This is the source of her resilience to persevere and the joy she shares with the world. She understands that abiding in Him is the only foundation from which she can truly speak of joy—it flows as naturally as grapes grow on a vine. It is His work. I am grateful for people like Kimboti, and I pray that His joy will be my strength. I pray it will be yours as well!

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me”.  (John 15:4)