Fruit of the Spirit: Joy

Many times we equate joy to be the same as happiness. Happiness depends on what is “happening” at the moment. Unlike happiness, joy is something you and I could get to experience all the time if you allow the Holy Spirit to produce it in you.

Joy is a good feeling in the soul that is produced by the Holy Spirit. This good feeling in the soul is something we cannot make happen because it is called the Fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us eyes to see the beauty of Jesus. Seeing the beauty of Jesus causes joy to rise up in our hearts. When you and  I see Christ in all that he is doing, and all that he is, then our hearts are drawn out in joy towards him.

Here’s the thing with happiness; it is an emotion that comes and goes just like sadness, anger and excitement. No one can stay happy forever. God never intended for people to be in that emotional state all the time. There is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). 

When life gets hard and you cannot pay your bills;  a loved one dies, and life is just a mess, for sure you will not be happy about those things. However, you can have joy in the midst of turmoil! It is not dependent on your circumstances.  Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of your life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation. True joy is the by-product of living daily in the presence of God, knowing Him intimately and experiencing His beauty. Therefore, you can experience it anywhere, at any time, and in whatever situation you may face.  This week, no matter the circumstances you may face, remember that true joy is available in God and you can experience it.

Scriptures for meditation: Galatians 5:22-23, James 1:2-3

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