12.12

Love + Joy  (God & Lilly)

John 15:10-11

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 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Living in Christ’s love and joy is the easy part when you do what would make Him proud. John says that by keeping in his Father’s commands, he remained in love and passed his joy onto others as well.  

I was able to follow Christ’s commandments easily this summer while at Montreat, NC with Downtown Youth. We worshiped him, had fun with each other as God’s children, and discussed his scripture thoroughly. Finding joy in these moments was simple. But unfortunately, it’s not always this easy to be loving or feel loved in everyday life. 

To combat this struggle, I have found my own way to live in love and joy constantly; by returning to Christ’s commands. Continuing to attend church, bible studies, and understanding scriptures by relating to others’ battles made me uncover joy because being with these Christ-following people makes me feel like I’m not alone, I have a family to support me. That’s mutual love.   

—Lilly Hensley