The Fruit of the Spirit is Joy...

Before long, our churches and radios will ring with the song, “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come.” Maybe it seems too early to be thinking of Christmas carols, but for others, the Christmas music can’t come soon enough. In our home, Christmas music can be heard coming from AJ’s room throughout the year. There is something special about Christmas songs, isn’t there … well, Christian Christmas songs, anyway. It’s the expression of hope and the feeling that amidst all our troubles, “All Is Well,” as yet another Christmas song reminds us.

But, what of Joy? Well, the Biblical idea of Joy has this sentiment — that “All Is Well” even in the midst of trials. Joy doesn’t necessarily mean happiness. Joy can be found when happiness cannot. Happiness is a feeling that comes and goes with our circumstances. Joy, however, overcomes our circumstances. It’s a triumphant, hope-filled word. If you want to see it for yourself, just use a concordance or computer program and look up all the New Testament passages that use the word, “joy.” You will find that many have joy coming through, or after, sorrow and struggle. Here are a couple:

James 1:2-3 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

John 16:22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Furthermore, true joy comes from God — it comes from knowing Him and growing in Him. My prayer, like that of Paul for the church of Rome, is that you experience overcoming, triumphant joy:

Romans 15:13 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

In His grip,
Pastor Decker