Bear Much Fruit: Joy
When I started thinking about joy, the movie “Inside Out” came to mind. In this animated film, Joy is a main character and one of five emotions inside the mind of a young girl. The other emotions are Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness. Joy always strives to remain joyful, hence her name, and is the leader of the young girl’s emotions.
Have you ever thought about which emotion is leading your life? We have all of these emotions competing for control. Joy and sorrow will even walk hand in hand at times, but only one will lead. It’s imperative that sorrow doesn’t lead for too long or it will replace joy with despair as its new companion. God recognizes sadness as a valid emotion, but He doesn’t want us to reside there.
“Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning”
-Psalm 30:5
God is always challenging us to look ahead, to look heavenward, to find the joy. In Matthew 7:16, Jesus said, “By their fruit, you will recognize them.” What does your fruit say about you? Does it say you’re angry or at peace? Does it say you’re full of bitterness or full of joy? Is your fruit identifying you as a Christ follower?
It’s easy to embrace the lie that because we’ve experienced loss we’ve earned the right to be <fill in the blank> all the time. We’ve been wounded, and that pain can cause emotions to explode. But do you know what God wants from you and for you? Joy.
“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” -Philippians 4:4
It may be difficult to rejoice in our circumstances, but we can always find joy in the character of God. Think of all He is to us: Creator, Father, Sustainer, Provider, Savior. The list goes on and on. We always have a reason to praise Him. Being grateful helps us combat other emotions that attempt to take over.
“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” -Nehemiah 8:10
Whenever we face loss, heartache, or sorrow of any kind, God uses these experiences to refine us, to create something new in us.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” -James 1:2-4
But how can I be joyful?
Be thankful.
When you are focused on all you do have instead of on what you don’t, you push aside all those other emotions to make room for joy. Your freedom. Your family. Your friends. Your salvation. Make a list and keep adding to it. Put the list in a spot where it can serve as a daily reminder of reasons to be grateful, reasons to choose joy.
Turn your focus outward.
Where can you serve? Who can you help? Joy comes from giving to others and dying to self. Jesus used His time on earth to model service to His disciples. He repeatedly put others needs above His own. Jesus made it His mission to bring joy to people He encountered.
Find the joy in your day.
It is a choice. Only you, not your circumstances, can dictate which emotion leads you. Choosing joy is possible when you rely on God’s strength and not your own. Focusing on how abundantly you have been blessed allows others to see “the joy of the Lord” in your life. Don’t let Satan blow it out.
Do you remember the Sunday school classic, “This Little Light of Mine”? It talks about letting your light shine, allowing others to see the joy of Jesus in you. The song also warns us to not let Satan snuff out our light. He wants to steal your joy. Satan hopes sorrow will consume you so that you fall victim to comparisons and discontent. Without your light, you are no longer pointing others to Christ. Don’t let Satan blow it out! Let your light shine!
Your joy is an overflow of gratitude for what Christ has done for you. No one can take that from you. It is your fruit of the Spirit. So, which emotion is leading your life? Will you permit joy to take the lead? You are recognized by your fruit, so live a life of gratitude. Ask God to help you choose joy each day.
“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
- Stephanie
Hope Mom to Kinley
Stephanie Blanks is married to Matt and has four children: Lyston (9), Kinley (who went home to Jesus in 2011), Levi (6), and Leighton (4). Stephanie works at the Chamber of Commerce in her small town of Hondo, TX. She enjoys singing in her church praise band, running, reading, and spending time with her family at the lake. You can read more from Stephanie on her blog.
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