The fruit of joy does not always include happiness. We can be happy and have joy, however Scripture also shares that we can have joy in affliction and suffering too. This is not humanly possible, but with God, all things are possible.
“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).
There is a woman named Joy who attends my local church body. She serves the congregation regularly in hospitality, in women’s leadership and as a greeter. Anytime I see her, I cannot help but smile. She was named very accurately. She shines with a bright smile, encouraging words, and a fun personality.
Joy has not always had an easy journey. She and her husband never had the opportunity to have children of their own. In an area that could easily seem void, Joy has stepped in to be a blessing to others who have children. This is not normal; this is Spirit-filled living. Joy is not just an active church member, she is also a doula, prayer warrior, and delivers meals to new moms. She is living out the fruit of the Spirit, joy.
The fruit of joy does not always include happiness. We can be happy and have joy, however Scripture also shares that we can have joy in affliction and suffering too. This is not humanly possible, but with God, all things are possible. Let us take time to study what joy from the Holy Spirit is in the life of a believer.
Joy in the Greek
The Greek word found in Galatians 5:22 is chara. Strong’s Concordance teaches that chara means “gladness, joy.” It is closely connected to the word chairó which is a farewell, to be glad, rejoice, or to be calmly happy. We see the word glad tied to the word joy.
In Psalm 32, David expresses his gratitude for God’s forgiveness. Psalm 32:11 says, “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”
Psalm 40:16 says, “May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; May those who love Your salvation continually say, ‘The Lord be exalted!’”
Joy from the Lord does cause gladness and rejoicing in His gift of salvation.
Shout for Joy
Throughout the Bible, we see the phrase, “shout for joy.” The truth is that when we have joy in Christ, it leads us into celebration. If someone witnesses their favorite team win a game, the crowd shouts for joy in victory. How much more will we who have been saved from wrath and eternal punishment celebrate that Jesus has set us free? He has brought all who believe in Him to forgiveness and reconciled us to God. Hallelujah!
“May those shout for joy and rejoice, who take delight in my vindication; And may they say continually, ‘The Lord be exalted, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant’” (Psalm 32:27).
“May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; May those who love Your salvation continually say, ‘The Lord be exalted!’” (Psalm 40:16).
“But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing and her people for gladness” (Isaiah 65:18).
This Is the Day
When can we have joy? Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day which the Lord has made; Let’s rejoice and be glad in it.”
Today, we are called by Scripture to rejoice and be glad. Each morning when I go into my son’s room to get him out of his crib, I sing “Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory.” This is taken from Isaiah 60:1. I want to train my boy to wake up with a purpose, knowing that he can glorify our risen Savior each day.
How do we have joy on the days when we feel weary, broken, or angry in life? This is where we return to the concept that joy is not just a feeling. Joy is a fruit, a product of having the Holy Spirit in your life. The Spirit never changes. The joy is always there for us to access, just like any fruit of the Spirit. However, some days it is more difficult to allow God to multiply joy in our lives. These are the times when we pray and ask the Spirit to fill us up and help us to choose joy when we do not feel like it, or honestly even want it.
Salvation Leads to Joy
We read of a beautiful Scripture found in Luke 15:7 which says, “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”
Heaven has joy when one person accepts Jesus. As souls are redeemed across the world, we are confident that heaven is glad and celebrating in joy. Salvation leads to joy. The gospel of Jesus leads to joy. In Acts 13, Paul takes his first missionary journey. While he is teaching to the Gentiles about Jesus’ resurrection, many rejoiced and believed in Christ. Unfortunately, they encountered persecution. But then they simply moved on to the next place. Interestingly enough Acts 13:52 ends the chapter, “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
What makes you different from everyone else around you? I would argue that the life of a believer will have a joy that is not of this world. Yes, we all have a variety of personalities with areas of strengths and weaknesses, but if we have the Holy Spirit, we should be producing joy (John 15:5). The disciples continually were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
It is one thing to have the Holy Spirt in your heart, but it is another to be filled up by the Holy Spirit each day. We have two options: to live by the flesh or to live by the Spirit. (Romans 8:4-6) The evidence of the Spirit in the life of a Christian is fruit. One of the fruits of the Spirit is joy. Our joy is a testimony of the work of Jesus in our lives and a witness to the unbelieving world around us.
Think about a believer you know who has had consistent joy even in disappointment, injustice, sickness, or death. What about this person has been a good witness for Christ?
2 Corinthians 13:9 says, “For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete.”
Through Christ, We Can Experience Joy
Maybe you are feeling weak right now. Talk to God about it. Tell Him how hard life is, but invite His Spirit in you to enable worship and thanksgiving in the midst of it. Glorify Jesus for the hope you have in Him. Ask Him to help you to have joy in the resurrection even if you are not happy in the current moment or are carrying your cross today.
Hebrews 12:2 says it well, "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Jesus suffered with the joy set before Him in mind. Maybe right now does not feel joyful or hopeful. However, when we are in Christ, we can share in His joy. Jesus focused on the future in heaven. He set his mind on things above. We too, have His Spirit and the ability to do this as well. No matter what trials or celebrations, joy is available to us and can be multiplied.
One day, Revelation 19:7 tells us that we will be glad and rejoice, giving honor to Jesus because the marriage of the Lamb will come and we, the church, will be ready to enter eternity with our Savior. For now though, we can hold on to this future hope and celebrate the joy of salvation that we have today and forever.
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