Throughout the Bible, there is a common condition associated with joy - shouts of joy, songs of joy, leaps of joy, dancing with joy - joy is uncontainable. Joy motivates
actions. Joy isn’t just a choice we make or an emotion we feel. It is a response to, a byproduct of knowing God and trusting in His character.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him. Psalm 28:7 (NIV)
This response of joy is entirely about the Lord and Who He is. We often recognize God’s character through His work in our lives, but joy isn’t found in granted wishes or
met needs; it is found in God Himself.
Is your “joy” conditional?
This is a big question. In fact, a recent movement of minimalism has put forward the question: “Does this spark joy?” The question is often used as a tactic to declutter one’s
life, whether it’s cleaning out a closet or filtering a music playlist. If something doesn’t “spark joy,” then it is removed, recycled, rehomed, etc. Truthfully, the movement will
eventually get the answer that the Bible has carried for millenia - nothing apart from the fullness of God will provide joy for us. It can’t be a version of God, or all of our
things plus God on top; true and complete joy is only in God.
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever. Psalm 16:11 (NLT)
When we trust God with all of ourselves, who we are, what we do, what we have, and what we want, our joy can’t be diminished by our shifting circumstances. Joy isn’t
conditional; it doesn’t rely on our success or feelings. It relies on the singular unchanging, unfailing, eternal God.
Joy is more than a feeling.
We won’t always feel happy. We won’t always clearly see reasons for joy. But the true joy of the Lord is not dependent on our feelings or circumstances. It is dependent
on God’s character.
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. Romans 15:13 (NIV)
This verse addresses Who God is before it talks about what He does. He is the God of hope. The Holy Spirit is powerful. All joy and peace are His to distribute. Our invitation is
to trust in Him and simply receive what He gives. This brings us to a state of overflow in which we are so full of joy and peace, that there isn’t room for a response other
than hope and praise. This overflow is not dependent on us or anything we bring to the table, but rather on the character of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our best efforts won’t produce joy
God’s gifts to us are not something that we can attain for ourselves. The best we can accomplish is a fleeting mimicry of what He has to offer. An overflow of joy will not
happen when we try hard enough, and the same is true for all the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit that God wants to produce in and through us comes from our connection to
Jesus. By the magnitude of His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, God accomplishes His will in our lives.
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)
Our task is to trust and obey in our connection to Jesus. If my goal is to be fruitful, my real goal is to be closer to Jesus. If my goal is to have more of the fruit of the Spirit
in my life, my real goal is to be closer to Jesus. If my goal is to be joyful, my real goal is to be closer to Jesus.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV)
