Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 (NKJV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Joy is something that most people think they know and have a grasp on, but they have no idea. When I say joy to many people, they think I’m talking about happiness, and if they think that, in many cases, they’d be wrong. Happiness is temporary and conditional; joy is not, it’s something more.

Now, is there necessarily a problem with connecting and associating happiness and joy? Not entirely, as joy can often grant happiness, but when we think the two are inextricably tied (as many do), we are unknowingly putting ourselves on a path that will lead to little of either being present in our lives.

It’s absolutely no accident that joy is listed as a fruit of the Spirit. Paul made no mistake in listing it, and there’s no mistake in it being listed early in the listing, right where it is. For all Christians, it should be immediately present that they openly exhibit love and joy. Before they open their mouths, both fruits should permeate from within the believer.

Joy isn’t the result of a situation, which many think. It’s a state of being you bring into any situation you face, good or bad. You may have to actively seek out the true source of joy, God above and within, but He will make Himself available to grow what’s needed within you. The source He provides is a well with no end. Are you drawing from it daily? He’s available!

If you’ve enjoyed this short piece on Galatians 5,

feel free to read the preceding piece:

LOVE