Joy Unspeakable!
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4
“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23
“For the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
When I think about joy, I picture things like a good meal, loud laughter, good friends. What do you picture when you think of the word “joy?”
The more I walk with Jesus, the more I realize that these things might be expressions of joy, but they aren’t joy in itself. These examples look more like “happiness.” The happiest moments in our lives come and go in the blink of an eye, and even the best moments are bound to come to an end. I’ve been desperate to find the kind of eternal joy that Jesus talks about.
When I began asking God to show me what real joy looks like, He would continually lead me back to the fruit of the Spirit. It caught my eye that love, joy, and peace are right at the beginning of the list. “Real joy comes from the Spirit,” He whispered to me.
The Spirit of God is often described as the “Giver of Life.” He animates us, giving breath to what would otherwise be breathless. If we keep asking for more of the Spirit of God, the fruit of the Spirit will eventually become second-nature. We can have real joy that carries us through all seasons of life.
I want to have joy when it’s easy, and joy when it’s hard. Joy when it makes sense, and joy when it doesn’t. Joy when there are trials, and joy when things are good. I want the Giver of Life to be my joy Himself.
I’ve tried to put a smile on my face all on my own. I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing more exhausting. Everything changed for me when I actually stopped asking for more joy and started asking for more of the Spirit. I’m learning that the greatest miracle in our whole lives is the Presence of God. If His Presence fills us, goes before us, and leads us, we can experience the fullness of joy that is in His actual Being.
My friend Season Bowers always says “joy is for you, because Jesus is for you.” I love how this statement takes the pressure off. Joy that comes from our own strength lasts a moment, and then it’s gone. Praise God that the joy of Jesus lasts an eternity.
What might be trying to steal the joy of Jesus from you today?
Where might you be able to receive His Presence in its place?
Take a moment to invite Him in. Receive the joy of Jesus today.
