Wow - I can't believe that February is over and so is our discussion about the first fruit of the spirit, love. Of course, we will really be talking about love throughout this whole study because, as I mentioned before, love is over-arching and almost all of the other fruits falls under its definition. I am excited to see where this study will lead and excited to dig into these other qualities that come through the Holy Spirit!
The next fruit, as you all know, is Joy. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines joy as "the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. ... a source or cause of delight." Dictionary.com defines joy in a similar way: "1. the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation; 2. a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; ... 4. a state of happiness or felicity."
Doesn't that sound great? Now, how can I get it?? This is one of those qualities that seems easy to define but difficult to achieve on a regular basis. Some people have an easier time with this one because some people are naturally joyful. I tend to be the opposite, a glass-is-half-empty kind of girl. Can any of you relate to that? I am finding, though, that God can change even the most basic of our natures, taking my tendancy towards negativity and turning it into a tendency towards hope, peace, and joy.
But let's dig into this definition a little more so we can begin to understand what exactly it is that we are seeking from this fruit. I don't believe that it is a constant euphoria. Would we really want to be in such a state all of the time anyway? I wouldn't. I like experiencing the whole range of emotions; I think it makes me a better person and makes me more capable of understanding and sympathizing with others. I think that this fruit actually refers to a deep and abiding confidence and peace. Confidence that God is in control and we don't have to live with worry in our hearts and the peace that results from that knowledge. It is an abiding peace and happiness that transcends emotion and our particular circumstances rather than being dependant on our situation.
In references to joy in the Bible, I am finding one constant theme: the joy always comes from God. We cannot get true joy from any other source. We try to find happiness apart from God and I think that people who do not know God do experience happiness. But that happiness is always fleeting. I think that must be why our culture, particularly here in the United States, is so obsessed with finding happiness. Isn't one of the country's founding ideas the "pursuit of happiness"? Apart from God, I don't think the lasting and abiding, deep and genuine happiness can ever be obtained.
How do you all define joy? Have you experienced it? Does this all strike a chord or ring true to you? In future posts, I will talk more about the "hows" of joy - how do we get it, how can we nurture it, how can we keep from losing it, etc. So stay tuned!
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Joy is also a hard one. As Kristen said, it doesn't depend on our circumstances. It isn't about everything going right. It isn't in keeping up with the Jones (or the Smiths) and winning. It's not living in the past or always dreaming about the future, I don't believe. It comes from knowing God and who we are in him. If we are sure that God hears us and that he is the one who gives us strength and life we can take joy in knowing He is there for us and will take care of us. But that all goes back to being in the Word and building that relationship. In building that, we build trust and we are in tune with what his will may be for us. We can find joy in knowing He will get us thru the day, the week, month or year - whatever the case may be.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's learning to live in the moment - the here and now. not always wishing it away. Being grateful. Taking in the many blessings that God has given.
Amy
I'm not exactly a glass is half empty but close, maybe more 1/2 full. I try to be realistic yet optimistic, just not over the top. I think negative or hear negative but then I think of some positives too, or at least try to. Joy for me, is definitely not a constant euphoria, those people actually make me cringe, to put it mildly. When I think of joy, at the moment (after midnight here), I think of peace, peacefulness. I feel at peace yet joyful, in the hope and faith I have in God, that He is in control (not man), that He is my Saviour and source of love, joy, peace, grace, courage, hope, etc. and that it's not of man (tho I may struggle to remember that at times). Like Amy said, I believe it's from knowing God and who I am in Him. Tho I have felt the joy (happiness) from other good things, as you say, it is fleeting, and soon to be forgotten. Hmm, I think it's interesting to see the word JOY on alot of things at Christmas time. I wonder at the definition others would give for the JOY item they display at Christmas, and why only at Christmas.
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