I have seen it in God’s word so many times, abide with God and you will have complete Joy. Still, after following God for over 50 years, I can spend days trying to do enough to obtain God’s favor and think my actions would merit a new level of Joy. Sadly, that simply is not so.
God recognized that we are simply unable to live a sin free life on our own. What is more, We are never going to perform enough feats or complete enough tasks to somehow make up for our sin and separation from God.
The sacrifice Christ made on our behalf, and his resurrection to restore the ability for us to have a relationship with God, allowed men the ability to experience the joy of once again being in God’s presence. If we do as Peter describes, and trust God to come into our lives and forgive and fulfill us; then we will experience the inexpressible and glorious joy Peter mentions in1 Peter1:8-9.
Then as we abide in Christ, allowing Him to transform us into His image, we will have a complete joy. Paul promised us in Philippians 1:5 That He who began a good work in you–the Spirit of God, will carry it to completion until the day of Christ’s return. That sanctification, the ongoing process of salvation, will allow us to abide with God and experience the joy that comes with that. That promise is our hope in this life. That hope, in turn, is the very source of our Joy–the true fruit of the Lord’s Spirit in our lives.
God Bless You
1 Peter 1:8-9
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
John 15:9-11
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Psalm 16:11
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 12:12
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Walking With God 