As I sit down to write this blog about the fruit of the Spirit, Joy, I have never felt more inadequate. My eyes are still puffy from crying as I sat outside my toddler’s bedroom door feeling exhausted and defeated. I tried so hard to create a day of happy memories, to be the perfect Pinterest mom, and lead my children with a gentle spirit. The day took a turn, I lost my patience and my cool. I picked up myself off the hardwood floor, looked at my husband and said sarcastically “Well... I have to go write a blog about Joy.” On my way to the computer I was nudged by what I believe was the Holy Spirit, to water my plants I have been trying to propagate. And there it was, a small green sprout poking its way out of the dark soil. The Lord so sweetly (and may I add gently) met me in my mess of a heart and reminded me Jesus is where the Joy is, the death and resurrection in every seed.
I think people, and often Christians, mistake joy with happiness, but they are not interchangeable. Joy is from within, regardless of what is going on around you. Happiness can be a blurred emotion, dependent on a situation. Joy is a condition of the heart. God knows our sorrows, heartaches, failures, and fears and he calls us to rejoice anyways (and always). Joy and thankfulness can become transactional in our lives and that can seep into our relationship with God. When our days don’t go as planned or we feel like we have failed because we didn’t live up to the world’s expectations, we begin to find it hard to rejoice always. The verse in 1 Thessalonians 5 is “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” How often do I find myself seeking that worldly happiness instead of meditating with gratitude for the joy of my heart is in Jesus? Each section of that verse is the patience, water and soil needed to grow joy.
Rejoice always: this can be hard and take practice but the Lord is good and created us for worship. Rejoicing sets our hearts to Him.
Pray continually: water your life with your relationship with Jesus and the Father. Let that relationship seep into the roots of your soul.
Give thanks in all circumstances: Our hearts must be rooted in gratitude for joy to grow or else we will miss the very key components of the joy the Lord intended for us.
I may not feel joy as I walk away from the door that was slammed in my face by my angry toddler. I may not feel joy as I lay in bed recounting my day’s shortcomings. Because joy is not a feeling or an emotion. Joy is a product of my relationship with Jesus. I praise Him for that because feelings are always shifting. We have been ransomed by Jesus Christ, an everlasting joy. He is where the joy is.
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