The Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
Do you wonder how the Fruit of the Spirit can apply to your life? Do you want to discover what the Word of God has to say about this “Fruit” and why it is so important to your life? Then join us below as we answer these and other questions about the Fruit of the Spirit that is Joy!
The Fruit of the Spirit
In Galatians 5:22-23 we find a list of nine attributes that make up the “Fruit of the Spirit” which develop within us as we live according to the Holy Spirit—living in alignment with God’s will and character. These are:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Longsuffering
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self-control
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”—Galatians 5:22-23
Yet, what do these mean for our lives, and what does the Word say about them?
The Fruit of the Spirit, Joy
Joy is the second attribute listed in the Fruit of the Spirit given in Galatians 5:22-23, yet its importance is unique. Without it, we cannot walk in strength, or even fully see ourselves as sons or daughters of the King of kings.
“… Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”—Nehemiah 8:10
While there are many definitions of what joy means, both in and out of the Word, one that stands out in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is, “to experience great pleasure or delight: rejoice.” If walking in joy means that we have pleasure and delight—particularly pleasure and delight in the Lord—then our response should be to rejoice! When God blesses us or those around us—when He shows Himself loving and faithful—we find joy, we are strengthened, and in turn, we rejoice in Him.
“…let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.”—Psalm 5:11
Now, to rejoice often includes praise, which perhaps is one of the reasons why to know Godly joy is to receive strength from the Lord. Because praise not only draws us closer to God, strengthening us by His presence, it glorifies the One who created us.
“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”—Psalm 16:11
“The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!”—Psalm 21:1
When we walk in joy, we are hopeful, knowing that God is a promise keeper. Joy is like the desire spoken of in Proverbs coming to pass… sweet.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”—Proverbs 13:12 (NKJV)
“When hope’s dream seems to drag on and on, the delay can be depressing. But when at last your dream comes true, life’s sweetness will satisfy your soul.”—Proverbs 13:12 (The Passion Translation)
Walk in Joy
So, if joy is a bringer of God’s strength, a reminder of our kinship to the King of kings, then it is probably something we all desire. Right? But how do we walk in joy? How can we even find it?
Well, since it is part of the Fruit of the Spirit, the obvious answer would be through the Holy Spirit. If we are to receive Godly joy, we need to seek God and listen to His Spirit within us.
Now, this can come in like a flood… washing over us through our acceptance of Christ and the Holy Spirit—a coming to God. Yet, there are those who have known God for years, have had the touch of the Holy Spirit within them, but in all that time, lack joy. This is in many ways because the enemy desires to steal our joy. For without joy we can become hopeless, misplace our relationship and kinship to the King of kings, and simply slip into a pattern of low expectations.
God desires for us to know His joy! He is stronger than the enemy, better, and loving! With God nothing is impossible. So, why do many still lack true joy?
It is a heart issue. The reasons may vary, but often, it ties to how we view ourselves—and God. Do we see God as loving? Do we see ourselves as being lovable? Do we think less of ourselves than God’s Word says? These are all places where the enemy can attack our joy. If we fail to view God as a loving God, or see ourselves as unlovable or worthless, then why would we accept the gift of joy? Why would we allow ourselves joy?
The same can be true when we or those around us are going through hard times. If we see suffering or pain, it can feel like we do not deserve joy—should reject it. Or as we journey through certain places, with certain people, we can feel like joy is a distraction, a blessing we do not merit.
These are all lies of the enemy. For God wants each of us to know His joy. He desires to sow blessings and strength upon His FAMILY. God is our GOOD FATHER, and what does a good father desire but for His children to grow up well, learn what they require… and of course, be happy. To know the fullness of joy.
“…what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”—Matthew 7:9-11
Why then do we walk in joylessness? Why do we accept the lies of the enemy regarding our ability or worthiness to experience joy? We need to seek the Lord, soak in His Word, listen to the Holy Spirit within us, and find ourselves in love with Him again! We need to rekindle our passion for our Creator, so that in relationship with Him, we can return to joy! Through Him we can find ourselves and our true worth in Messiah.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” – John 15:11,
There is a reason God mentions joy nearly 200 times in the Word; He wants us to know it… to find it… to have it in full!
“Sing, O barren…
Break forth into singing, and cry aloud…
“Enlarge the place of your tent,
and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
do not spare; lengthen your cords,
and strengthen your stakes.
“For you shall expand to the right and to the left,
and your descendants will inherit the nations,
and make the desolate cities inhabited.”
—Isaiah 54:1-3
Would you like to learn more about joy? Then click HERE to discover how you can walk in joy!
Would you like to give of the joy God has given you? Then click HERE to discover how!
Would you like to partner with Curt Landry Ministries to bring joy to those who need it most? Then click HERE to become a Covenant Partner!
Would you like to discover your Godly strengths? Then click HERE to find what God has put within you!
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”—Luke 6:38