What is joy? Why is it a fruit of the Spirit?
Here's the answer:
Joy can be a very happy feeling, but it can also be a way we can respond to all God has done for us. It is a fruit of the Spirit.
When something good happens, it’s easy to feel happy. Think about one of the best times in your life, and how happy that made you. Maybe it was when you got exactly what you wanted for Christmas, or you traveled to someplace exciting and fun, or you found out you were going to get a new baby brother or sister. That’s joy! You can even have joy when you’re simply in a good mood or having fun with friends or family. But what about in the hard times, when things aren’t going your way?
Because the world is full of sin, sometimes tough stuff happens in life. Maybe you stub your toe, or your pet dies, or a friend says they don’t want to be around you anymore. It’s okay to be sad about these things. But did you know you can still have joy, even when you’re sad? God has done so much for all of us, and you can choose to have joy by remembering these things and being thankful for them. When tough times happen, God can use them to help us become more like Him. It’s not easy or fun, but you can have joy by being thankful that God cares so much about you that He uses even the hard things for your good.
If you know Jesus as your Savior, you can have joy at all times knowing that He has saved you from your sins and will one day bring you to live with Him forever. That is the biggest reason there is for joy!
Bible Truth
"May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy..." (Romans 15:13).
"My brothers and sisters, you will face all kinds of trouble. When you do, think of it as pure joy. Your faith will be tested. You know that when this happens it will produce in you the strength to continue" (James 1:2–3).
