There is something about talking to or being around someone who is positive and uplifting. Not necessarily a saccharine, sickly sweet or falsely Pollyanna wanna-be, but a genuinely joyful person who brings light into the room, conversation or situation. Nobody wants to be around a negative, grumpy person; not for very long at any rate.
It is interesting to me that joy is listed as a fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) Looking at the origins of the word as it is used there in that verse, it simply means gladness and calm delight. I was expecting to find something more in-depth behind the meaning there; something hidden that would knock my socks off and uncover a giant revelation. Instead what I found was straightforward joy, pure and simple. Simple joy that requires no embellishing; true joy.
True joy is not something we can fake or just put on at will. True joy
supersedes the very real problems we face in our lives here on this
Earth. True joy is an element that custom fits any personality and will shine through even in times of tears or sorrow.
There is a stark contrast between those who exude joy and those who don't. Take for example the lady whose memorial service we just held this weekend. I had only known her the last 7 years, but everything I heard spoken of her by those who had known her through her years lined up with what I experienced first hand; the lady had joy. Did that mean she was always bubbly, laughing and smiling? No. What it did mean was that I never saw her down and dejected. No matter what was going on in her life, she always had a kind, warm smile and an encouraging, positive word.
The opposite end of the spectrum brings to mind a fellow whose wife had taken his children and left him; his life was literally falling apart. He knew the Lord, but he had no joy. When I would see him his shoulders were slumped, he was dejected and defeated. To talk to him meant hearing all of the bad news all over again. It was as though the light had been snuffed out of him. He needed joy. Not that joy would have made him happy about his situation, but the joy of the Lord would have been an underlying strength, carrying him through that horrible time in his life. (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV)
So which kind of person would you rather be? Which one would you rather spend time with? The one who is dejected and without strength or the one who exhibits signs of an internal calm, a strength that comes from the Spirit? I think we would all choose to be the one with joy. But how can we get this joy?
The Bible refers to this joy as a fruit of the Spirit. That would indicate to me that having the Spirit of the One True Living God residing in my life would create a cause and effect situation in which the evidence of the Spirit would manifest itself. How does it manifest itself? According to Galatians 5:22-23, one way it manifests itself is as joy. This joy should be something that people we're in a relationship with will see. They may not be able to pinpoint this intangible essence we have about us, but they will know we possess something that is bigger than us.
Letting the Spirit work His true joy in our lives will enhance our relationships, it will make us better friends, better parents, better spouses, better employees, better employers, the list just goes on. I cannot name one relationship that will not directly benefit from letting the Spirit cultivate the fruit of joy in our lives.
I think one way the Spirit brings joy into our lives is because of the hope that we have in Him. There are going to be times, and maybe you are in the midst of one now, that there is no way you can see over, under, around or through the trouble facing you. By all natural accounts, the situation is doomed. Maybe your marriage is in trouble or your child has turned his back on you. Do not despair! If the God of hope lives in you, you can have joy even in this dark situation. Paul called on "the God of hope" that He would fill the Christians in Rome with all joy, as they trusted in Him, by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13) What a promise that is! And it is our promise too!
There is no reason to live trapped in relationships that have no joy. We have full access to the Spirit that Paul was telling the Galatian believers about. That same joy can be alive in your relationships today when you surrender to the Lord and invite His Spirit to have control of your life. He will lead you and guide you into all truth. You can hold on to the hope that is in the Lord and let his joy be your strength.
There is something about talking to or being around someone who is positive and uplifting. Not necessarily a saccharine, sickly sweet or falsely Pollyanna wanna-be, but a genuinely joyful person who brings light into the room, conversation or situation. Nobody wants to be around a negative, grumpy person; not for very long at any rate.
True joy is not something we can fake or just put on at will. True joy supersedes the very real problems we face in our lives here on this Earth. True joy is an element that custom fits any personality and will shine through even in times of tears or sorrow.
There is a stark contrast between those who exude joy and those who don't. Take for example the lady whose memorial service we just held this weekend. I had only known her the last 7 years, but everything I heard spoken of her by those who had known her through her years lined up with what I experienced first hand; the lady had joy. Did that mean she was always bubbly, laughing and smiling? No. What it did mean was that I never saw her down and dejected. No matter what was going on in her life, she always had a kind, warm smile and an encouraging, positive word.
The opposite end of the spectrum brings to mind a fellow whose wife had taken his children and left him; his life was literally falling apart. He knew the Lord, but he had no joy. When I would see him his shoulders were slumped, he was dejected and defeated. To talk to him meant hearing all of the bad news all over again. It was as though the light had been snuffed out of him. He needed joy. Not that joy would have made him happy about his situation, but the joy of the Lord would have been an underlying strength, carrying him through that horrible time in his life. (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV)
So which kind of person would you rather be? Which one would you rather spend time with? The one who is dejected and without strength or the one who exhibits signs of an internal calm, a strength that comes from the Spirit? I think we would all choose to be the one with joy. But how can we get this joy?The Bible refers to this joy as a fruit of the Spirit. That would indicate to me that having the Spirit of the One True Living God residing in my life would create a cause and effect situation in which the evidence of the Spirit would manifest itself. How does it manifest itself? According to Galatians 5:22-23, one way it manifests itself is as joy. This joy should be something that people we're in a relationship with will see. They may not be able to pinpoint this intangible essence we have about us, but they will know we possess something that is bigger than us.
Letting the Spirit work His true joy in our lives will enhance our relationships, it will make us better friends, better parents, better spouses, better employees, better employers, the list just goes on. I cannot name one relationship that will not directly benefit from letting the Spirit cultivate the fruit of joy in our lives.
I think one way the Spirit brings joy into our lives is because of the hope that we have in Him. There are going to be times, and maybe you are in the midst of one now, that there is no way you can see over, under, around or through the trouble facing you. By all natural accounts, the situation is doomed. Maybe your marriage is in trouble or your child has turned his back on you. Do not despair! If the God of hope lives in you, you can have joy even in this dark situation. Paul called on "the God of hope" that He would fill the Christians in Rome with all joy, as they trusted in Him, by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13) What a promise that is! And it is our promise too!
There is no reason to live trapped in relationships that have no joy. We have full access to the Spirit that Paul was telling the Galatian believers about. That same joy can be alive in your relationships today when you surrender to the Lord and invite His Spirit to have control of your life. He will lead you and guide you into all truth. You can hold on to the hope that is in the Lord and let his joy be your strength.