March 21, 2026

Living Water Vineyard Devotion

Saturday

15 Days Until Resurrection Sunday

“Filled With Joy”

John 15:11 (NLT)

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”

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A Quick Invitation This Sunday

Before we jump in—just a quick encouragement for this weekend.

We have a team heading to the Dominican Republic, and they’ll be serving burritos before service this Sunday to help support the trip. They’ll be partnering in an incredible outreach—serving a special needs school, reaching the community, and sharing Jesus with hundreds of kids.

There’s no set price—just whatever you feel led to give.

It’s a simple way to be part of what God is doing…

And honestly, a reminder that joy multiplies when we step into His mission together.

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Let Me Tell You a Story

Imagine someone who has never read the Bible.

Let’s call her Marion Elizabeth.

She didn’t grow up in church.

Didn’t know the stories.

Didn’t know the language.

But one day, someone hands her a Bible and says,

“Start anywhere.”

So she begins reading.

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She Starts in Luke…

And she reads about shepherds.

Not kings.

Not religious leaders.

Shepherds.

Out in a field.

Night shift.

Ordinary people.

And suddenly—

The sky breaks open.

Angels appear.

And they say:

“I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” (Luke 2:10)

Marion pauses.

“Joy?”

Out of everything they could announce…

Why joy?

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Why Joy?

If Marion kept reading, she would begin to notice something:

Joy is everywhere.

• When Jesus is born → Joy

• When the lost are found → Joy

• When sins are forgiven → Joy

• When the Spirit fills people → Joy

In fact…

👉 The word “joy” appears over 150 times in the Bible

👉 Words like rejoice appear 200+ times

It’s not a side theme.

It’s a central theme.

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But Here’s What Marion Wonders…

“Is joy just another word for happiness?”

Because if that’s true…

Then why would the angels announce it like this?

Why would Jesus promise it like this?

Why would people cling to it in suffering?

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Joy vs. Happiness

Here’s what Marion begins to discover:

Happiness

• Comes from circumstances

• Depends on what’s happening around you

• Comes and goes

Joy

• Comes from God’s presence

• Lives inside you

• Remains—even when life is hard

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And Then She Reads This…

Romans 14:17:

“The Kingdom of God is… righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Not happiness.

Joy.

Because happiness can’t survive everything.

But joy can.

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Why This Mattered So Much

Think about those shepherds again.

They weren’t living easy lives.

They were:

• Overlooked

• Undervalued

• Living in uncertainty

And heaven breaks in and says:

👉 “We’re bringing you joy.”

Why?

Because Jesus didn’t come to improve their circumstances first…

He came to transform their hearts.

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Back to Marion

As she keeps reading…

She comes across something Jesus says:

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:11)

And now she realizes something:

👉 This isn’t just any joy

👉 This is His joy

The same joy:

• Jesus had in the Spirit

• Jesus had in obedience

• Jesus had even on the way to the cross

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A Real Story of Joy

Marion reads about people in history too.

She comes across a man named Richard Wurmbrand.

A pastor.

Imprisoned for 14 years for his faith.

Beaten.

Isolated.

Forgotten.

And yet—

He would dance in his prison cell.

Not because life was good.

But because God was present.

“They could lock him in a cell…

but they could not keep Jesus out.”

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And Then It Hits Her…

Joy isn’t about what’s happening around you.

It’s about Who is with you.

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But Then Comes the Struggle

Marion begins to notice something in her own life.

She doesn’t always feel that joy.

And neither do we.

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The Chips Story (Expanded)

The other day, I grabbed a bag of chips in the middle of the afternoon.

They tasted amazing.

Salty. Crunchy. Satisfying—for a moment.

But later that night…

Tamar made one of my favorite meals:

chicken and sweet potatoes.

Something real.

Something nourishing.

But I wasn’t hungry anymore.

I had filled up on something that tasted good…

but had no real substance.

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And This Is What Marion Realizes

👉 Sometimes we don’t lose joy…

👉 We replace it with something else

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Happiness vs. Joy (The Real Issue)

We start chasing:

• Comfort

• Entertainment

• Distraction

• Approval

All forms of happiness

And they’re not wrong…

But they’re not enough.

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Here’s the line:

👉 “We often hunger for happiness…

but our soul was created for joy.”

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Why This Matters So Much

Because happiness says:

“I feel good because life is going well.”

But joy says:

“I am steady because God is with me.”

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Hunger and Joy Are Connected

Jesus said:

“Abide in Me… remain in My love…”

And then what does He say?

“That My joy may be in you.”

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👉 Joy flows where connection lives

👉 Joy grows where hunger remains

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Back to Marion One Last Time

She closes her Bible for the day.

And she realizes:

The angels weren’t just announcing a feeling.

They were announcing a Person.

Because where Jesus is…

👉 Joy is.

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A Simple Invitation

If your joy feels low…

Don’t try harder.

Don’t fake it.

Don’t chase happiness harder.

👉 Get hungry again.

Come back.

Abide.

Sit with Him.

Because when you truly taste and see that the Lord is good…

Joy follows.

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Reflection Questions

1. What “spiritual junk food” might be dulling my hunger for Jesus?

2. Am I chasing happiness… or cultivating joy?

3. What is one way I can intentionally abide in Him today?

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Prayer

Jesus,

thank You that true joy is found in You alone.

Would You stir up hunger in my heart again?

Where I’ve filled up on things that don’t satisfy,

help me to lay them down.

Teach me to abide in You—

to stay close and remain in Your love.

Fill me with Your presence,

and let Your joy overflow in my life.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

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🎶 Worship Moment

“The Joy of the Lord” – Rend Collective

“The joy of the Lord is my strength…”

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“Happiness is something you chase…

but joy is Someone you receive.”