Joy - a feeling of great pleasure or happiness.
This is the textbook definition of joy. We refer to joy as something that bring us happiness, even if it's temporary. Not too long ago, there was a series about decluttering and only keeping the items that "sparked joy" for you. But where is our joy? What do we let dictate the joy in our hearts on a day to day basis?
We know that Galatians 5 lists Joy as one of the fruits of the spirit. Many times in my life, I've looked at the fruits of the spirit as a sort of "checklist" of things I need to have in order to prove my worth as a believer, but fruits aren't something that are put onto the tree, but rather something that is produced from within. From the maker of the tree. These fruits are produced by the Spirit through you and I, as Paul says in Galatians 5, by walking in step with the Spirit.
So if Joy is a fruit of the spirit, produced through us by the Spirit, how do we remain joyful? So often we have a bad day. Or a bad month. Or even a whole bad year. We live in a fallen, sinful world amongst fallen and sinful people like ourselves, so it's bound to happen. And here is where we make a difference in definitions.
Happiness does not equal Joy.
We will have bad days. There will be days when we are sad. Someone will hurt you. You may lose someone dear to you. A difficult season of life may approach. Emotions are not sinful, but our response to those emotions is how we show Christ in our lives.
Joy, however, should be completely separate. As believers, we have an eternal joy. Our joy is now and should forever be in Jesus and in glorifying Him forever.
We may have a sad day, but we can still have an eternal joy as our foundation.
Be joyful today. He's on the throne.
"Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah 12:6
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