Fruit of the SpiritSample

Joy

Joy is an important theme in the Bible. Over and over, we read how lasting joy is to be found in God alone: “In your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). When sin had devastated David’s relationship with God, he experienced a dramatic loss of joy and earnestly prayed: “take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:11-12). Joy is thus closely connected to living in God’s presence. This implies that the indwelling of God’s Spirit in your heart is a source of deep joy as well!

Even when the Spirit is in our hearts, however, our joy may sometimes be overshadowed by sorrow or worries. In such situations, it is all the more important to focus on Jesus instead of our circumstances and to live by faith. We can’t fill ourselves with joy, but God can: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).