My husband and I finally decided to make our friendship permanent.

My father pulled me aside and very kindly asked why I wanted to get married at all. Why turn a six-year friendship into a marriage?

Though I’m not one to be quick with words, I knew immediately what to say. “Dad, my heart will follow him wherever he goes. I need to be with him.” The very thought of not being alongside the love of my life made me incredibly sad. Joy was being together.

God wants that kind of heartfelt love from us. After all, He calls the Church His bride.

God wants our attention, our praises, our needs, our trust, and our obedience. He wants to be a part of our passions and our sorrows. He desires us to willingly join up our life with Him.

In the verses prior to John 15:11, Jesus says that abiding in Him will bring us joy. Like any great marriage, it begins with a decision and then abiding becomes an everyday pursuit of walking with our loving God.

We abide as we talk to Him, as we listen through His Word, as we pursue His passion for loving people. We abide as we hold to hope, continue to trust, and speak our thanks. In these things comes joy.