The Joy That Follows Obedience
Obedience opens space for quiet joy, like morning light filling a cleared room.
Devotional Credit: Days of Heaven on Earth by A. B. Simpson
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Obedience is not a grim duty that squeezes joy out of life. A. B. Simpson points us to a very different way. Jesus says that if we know what He has shown us and do it, we will be blessed. This is not a bargain we strike with God. It is the fruit of trusting union with Jesus, where His life becomes our life and His desires shape our steps. Simpson reminds us that surrender is not loss. It is release. When we let go of our clenched preferences and say yes to the Lord, we discover a deeper rest than we knew to ask for.
Simpson connects thankfulness with obedience. A grateful heart notices the goodness of God and is quick to yield to His voice. Gratitude turns our gaze from the swirl of problems to the faithfulness of the Lord. As praise rises, fear loses its grip, and obedience becomes a glad response instead of a reluctant chore. In that posture, the peace of God settles us, and joy begins to ring true.
He also points to the blessing of hungering and thirsting for righteousness. This is not a self-improvement quest. This is Jesus satisfying the appetite He awakens in us. The more we receive His goodness, the more our lives bend outward in mercy, forgiveness, and generous giving. The strange arithmetic of the kingdom takes over. As we give, we find ourselves enriched. As we release, we discover we have more.
Finally, Simpson does not hide the place of suffering. Following Jesus sometimes leads us through sorrow, yet it is not the last word. On the other side of shared sufferings, there is a joy that overflows. Tears do come, yet they are often followed by a joy that surprises us. This is not bravado. It is the steady triumph of the risen Lord who lives in us and leads us. Thank you, A. B. Simpson, for calling us to this glad path of obedience filled with gratitude, generosity, and durable joy.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
Child, I have brought you into a life where knowing and doing move together. As you walk in what you know, you discover the blessing I have already prepared. Your obedience is not a payment but a pathway where My peace meets you and My joy strengthens you.
I have joined you to Jesus. You are not striving alone. You died with Him, you were raised with Him, and His life is now your life. When you yield your will, you are not losing yourself. You are finding who you truly are in Him. Let thanksgiving be your posture, for gratitude opens your eyes to the goodness that surrounds you and steadies your steps when pressures rise.
Mercy and generosity are not heavy tasks for you. They are expressions of the new heart I have given. As you forgive, I free you. As you give, I supply. In the moments that include suffering, remember that you share in His story. I turn mourning into gladness, and I set songs in the night.
Walk today with a quiet trust. I am at work in you to will and to act according to My good pleasure. In every small yes, I lead you into the joy that I have promised.
Scripture References: John 13:17; John 15:10-11; Philippians 4:6-7; Colossians 3:15-17; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:4-11; Matthew 5:6-7; Acts 20:35; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Ephesians 2:10; James 1:22-25; 1 Peter 4:12-13; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Psalm 30:11-12; Psalm 16:11; Romans 15:13; Philippians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Real-Life Analogy
Think about your phone with dozens of apps left running in the background. The battery drains, everything slows, and simple tasks feel heavy. Then you swipe them closed. The phone does not lose anything essential. It regains capacity, clarity, and ease. Obedience is like clearing those background tasks. When we release stubborn preferences and quiet the constant pull of lesser attachments, we are not deprived. We make room for life to flow as it should.
A simple practice for today: when I feel the tug to cling to my way, I will pause and say, “Lord, I trust You to live Your life through me in this moment. I yield this choice to You.” If it is a tense conversation, I will listen with a gentle spirit and speak truth kindly. If it is a financial decision, I will choose generosity where You nudge me. If it is hidden resentment, I will forgive and let You set my heart free.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, thank You that blessing follows the path You mark out. In Jesus I have peace, joy, and every needed grace. I gladly yield my will to You today, trusting that Your life in me is my wisdom and strength. Thank You for filling my heart with gratitude, for shaping my desires toward mercy and generosity, and for turning every sorrow into deeper joy. I rest in Your faithful care.