Recently, we have been reflecting on joy. This will be a short post but a direct one.
Happiness is different than joy. Happiness is positive emotional projection. Human emotions fluctuate; however, we are promised joy through trials. The natural response to trials or hardship is grief to some degree, but as Christians we are promised a joy that is constant even through trials. If this joy is constant and our emotions are not, then this cannot be the same as happiness. The joy that we are promised to receive from a relationship with Christ is not an emotion, but a foundation, a buoyancy that compels us to surface even after waves have pulled our heads under the deepest of waters. In essence, it can be summed up as the direct result of the hope found in Christ.
The Rend Collective, made an observation that had me thinking about my life with Christ. They said, “Seriousness isn’t a fruit of the spirit, but JOY is.”
I want to learn to let go and celebrate in the joy he has planted in our hearts as a response to his perfect and complete love.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” -Galatians 5:22