Some wise person has observed that shared joy is double joy, but shared sorrow is half the sorrow!
When Jesus taught His disciples to abide in Him, and abide in His word, He said they would abide in His love, and their joy would be full, if they kept His commandments and loved one another. And then He told them to bear witness of Him to a world that would hate them and persecute them, adding that they would find peace in obedience to Him. “Be of good cheer,” He said, “I have overcome the world.” (John 15 and 16).
It's a strange concept to natural thinking that joy and peace and love and cheerfulness are products of simple obedience, to care more for others than for self. Jesus demonstrated what He meant by washing the feet of His disciples (John 13). Later, He provided the ultimate example when He was tortured to death by those He came to love.
Few, if any of us, will be called upon to follow Jesus that far. But all of us are commanded to love others by sharing our God-given joy with them, especially from the depths of trials and hardships when our light shines brightest in our cheerful witness to the truth of God’s love.
We can begin to practice our obedience by embracing the very minor hardship of regular, intentional outreach to our friends, neighbors and strangers.