The second Fruit of the Spirit is that of joy. If you look the word up you get definitions like “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” The problem with that is that there is plenty in life to rob us of pleasure and happiness. Certainly, I have met people who are naturally joyful. My wife Cleo fits that description. On the other hand there are people, and I am one of them, who struggles with depression and can find joy elusive. So the question is, what is meant by joy as a fruit of the spirit?

If you survey the use of the word in the New Testament there are places where it is used as a synonym for happiness. For instance, when the Christians were scattered in Acts 8, Philip was in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. The populace paid close attention to what he said and witnessed evil spirits driven out of people and the lame and paralyzed healed and it says, in verse 8, “so there was great joy in that city.” The gospel brought hope to the hopeless and with it joy.

What is interesting to me is the proximity of joy and the Holy Spirit. For instance, in Acts 13:52 we read, ‘And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” There is a connection between Joy and the Holy Spirit because it is the Spirit who brings real joy.

We have a similar connection in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Again notice that it is God who fills us with joy and peace as we trust him in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Our joy does not come from our circumstances, which would often create anything but joy. But Biblical joy comes from God Himself who fills us with His joy as we trust in Him. Thus, the closer we press into God, the more joy we experience. Not because of our circumstances but because God fills our hearts with His peace and joy in spite of our circumstances. Biblical joy is a state of being that comes directly from God and is not tied to our circumstances.

This was true even of Christ as faced the cross. Consider these words in Hebrews 12:1-3. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Joy is not the absence of difficulty but the presence of God. Think about that today. Joy is not the absence of difficulty but the presence of God.

Father, thank you that despite my circumstances, in you I have joy. Help me find joy in your presence today. Amen.