WATCHWORD:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Meditation:
Fruit of the Spirit
What is your definition of joy? Did you include the word happiness or any of its derivatives? They seem to be related, that’s true. But the difference is much greater than we might have thought.
When we look at the Galatian scripture passage we see that joy it’s listed among the fruits of the spirit. We are also aware that happiness does not appear. When we speak of the fruits of the spirit we’re talking about the role that the Holy Spirit plays within us. We could conclude from that, that joy is an internal condition, related to peace and contentment. Joy does not reside in our circumstances.
So, where do you come out on that? For every person who says joy is an underlying truth that good or bad circumstances can’t dictate, and that happiness is rooted in circumstance, there will be others who think the opposite, that joy is just a state of mind, the outcome of a mind seeking happiness and focused on pleasure, pleasing thoughts and pleasant experiences.
I don’t know if you agree with either of those comparisons, however, the idea that seems most faith-based is that experiencing happiness depends on external factors. Happiness happens to us. Even though we may seek it, desire it, pursue it, etc., feeling happy is not a choice we make. Perhaps you win the lottery, and what do you know, you’re happy. Your grandkids come to visit, and that is just the happiest of times.
Joy, on the other hand, is a choice purposefully made. Happiness doesn’t bring joy, and joy isn’t the byproduct of happiness. Joy is something grander than happiness. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and when we find joy it’s infused with comfort and wrapped in peace. It’s an attitude of the heart and spirit, often synonymous with but not limited to following Christ Jesus and pursuing a Christian life.
I would be hard pressed to talk about my faith journey without mentioning the all-encompassing sense of joy that I feel. My kids once asked me why I seemed so much happier? I love that comment and I was able to talk with them about my relationship with Christ. But afterward I got to thinking, I was happy, but that was not that the deep, contentment and peace that I felt. That was joy.
You and I can talk about our faith journey and the sense of joy that we feel, but it’s hard for someone who has not felt that spiritual well-being, to imagine what we’re talking about. They, like my children, mistake our joy for happiness.
One other point: Happiness shows on your face, for all to see. Joy resides in the heart. Pursue happiness, but choose joy, it’s a delicious fruit of the spirit. So be it.
Bulletin Board:
A heart-felt wish — Open our eyes and unstop our ears, Lord, so that we can know you and share the joy that fills our hearts.
Praying Romans 15:13:
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
