Did you know that joy is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit, and it is a gift from God to His children? I am so thankful to have this inexpressible joy in my life.
Joy is gladness, a calm delight, a great pleasure and it is not the same as happiness. One difference is that joy is within your soul, your innermost person. You can have joy when your life is crashing down around you. James 1 tells us to “consider it pure joy when we encounter trials”, because our faith is going to grow and make us more complete. Joy can be lacking in people that have everything from a money point of view, because they don’t know the Lord.
The Joy of the Lord is your strength
Ezra is reading the word of the Lord to everyone in Jerusalem. Those listening are saddened because of their disobedience. Then, Nehemiah and Ezra told the people something amazing. “This day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Neh. 8:10 Why is it our strength? Because God’s joy within strengthens us to do what He asks of us. We can have joy because we know God is on our side! Even when we have serious problems, we can still let the Lord’s joy strengthen us.
Joy in the tests of life
“So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire… And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” 1 Peter 1:7,8
This passage is so powerful! Notice verse 7 is talking about “your faith” being tested by fire. Just like in James 1 and Nehemiah 8 they are going through a hard time. Yet, we can have joy in the tests. We can greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible because of Jesus. He washed my sins away and now I have the Holy spirit and the promise of heaven. That’s what knowing Jesus does for us during our trials and tests, we still have joy!
They were greatly rejoicing while being tested. Not just a little bit of joy, but greatly rejoicing. I find that challenging since my tendency is to complain when going through trials.
This inexpressible joy is deep within you, words are simply inadequate to describe it fully!
When I was 20 weeks pregnant with my 2nd child, I was told that my baby would have down syndrome. They encouraged me to “eliminate the pregnancy”. We absolutely rejected this idea, and we just prayed and trusted the Lord. While I was in labor, the nurse and my Certified Nurse Midwife knew that it was a possibility. I sang along to worship music as I was on a birthing ball in the shower. One of the nurses asked me how I could be so calm and singing knowing what was to come? She didn’t understand that the joy of the Lord was in me, and He gave me strength.
Joy while suffering
Paul was in jail and in the letter to the Galatians he is writing about the fruits of the Spirit, and the 2nd one is joy! How can you be joyful in prison? This seems like an oxymoron, but it isn’t. Paul had joy from the Holy Spirit within his soul. SO can you! Joy from the Spirit transcends our own circumstances! It is evident when we are facing a challenge. Do you have this inexpressible joy?
“So, they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.” Acts 5:41. How could they have joy after a beating? Because they loved the Lord and were thankful to suffer for Jesus’ name. That is deep faith.
If you don’t know what flogging is, please click this link to read about it. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/hbd/f/flogging.html
More Joy
“For who is our hope, or joy or crown of pride, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Or is it not indeed you? For you are our glory and joy.” 1 Thess. 2:18,19 They had joy because they knew their brothers & sisters had stayed faithful to Jesus. Do you rejoice that you have sisters in Christ? You should, they are a gift. Especially if they pray!
1 Chronicles 16:27 tells us, “Strength and joy are in His place”, so He can give it to us! Can’t you just hear someone saying, “Let’s go over to Katie’s place for some fun?” Well, let’s go over to the Lord’s place! Strength and joy await us there. Are you coming?
“Well, let’s go over to the Lord’s place! Strength and joy await us there.“
Thank you for sharing, Lisa. Our strength is definitely in the joy of the Lord. If we are to have victory over trials of this world, it must come from our soul. No matter what is happening on the world, our root of joy is found in Jesus Christ. Glory to Him in all things!
Thank you, sis, I appreciate your thoughts. Joy is so important, and I think it is misunderstood at times. Thankful for the gift of joy.
This makes me think of the book “Pollyanna”. In it she tells of her father discovering that the Bible is just full of verses that tell us to be joyful and to rejoice. It is something we can choose and as you said a gift that our heavenly Father gives. I love your examples of joy even in the trials – that is such a testimony to others!