Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.

~Psalm 47:1 NIV

We sang loudly, and the fruit of joy shined on our faces.

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It was the first day of Vacation Bible School on a hot Georgia summer morning. We sang, clapped, shouted, and jumped in time to the lively music flowing from the piano in our little Methodist church. The children sang of the joy down in their hearts.

Joy experienced by children is uninhibited and spontaneous. We see it in their eyes and their smiles. They readily embrace laughter. Their pure joy is as evident as that of a puppy who, in wagging its tail, cannot help but wag its whole body. Oh, to recapture the joy of our childhood, the unguarded exhibition of who we are, and the confidence which goes along with it.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy.

~Psalm 16:11 ESV

As we take the path that God has prepared for us, we discover true joy, not the kind of joy the world offers. The world’s type of joy is temporary and depends on the situation. The unbeliever’s joy lasts if things are going well but disappears as soon as problems arise.

Believers experience joy in God’s presence, as we worship Him together. This is the joy of the Lord, a joy only He can give us, a joy not dependent on circumstances, and a joy no one can take away from us.

Problems will arise. Tragedy sometimes happens. Disappointments abound. Where is the joy then? Maybe it doesn’t look so at the time, but at the center of our beings, we belong to Christ. God’s joy sustains us. We may not feel happy at a sad moment, but God’s joy is still within us.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

            -Nehemiah 8:10 ESV

We can be confident that God’s love and care are consistent, no matter what we may encounter.

Have you ever thought about reading everything the Bible has to say about joy? There is so much written about this fruit of the Spirit. Joy not only comes from God, but it is also a gift to those who belong to Jesus. We learn as we grow in our relationship with God that our joy will increase. We also learn we can choose to be joyful, even when we are not necessarily feeling that way. And, best of all, we learn God promises us joy in the future.

Jesus went to the cross and died a horrible death so we could be saved and live eternally with Him in Heaven. He is the joy-giver. Jesus paid for those sins, so we do not have to pay for them ourselves.

There is one catch. The gift of eternal life with Jesus depends on our accepting the gift by repenting of our sins, asking Him for forgiveness, and inviting Him into our hearts to become our Savior and our Lord. He loved us enough to give His life for us, and He received joy when we ask Him to be our Savior.

If you’ve never accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, do so today. If you have made the decision to follow Him, I would be honored if you would share it with me.

Have you accepted the gift of salvation?

Lord Jesus, I ask You to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart as Savior. Thank You for dying in my place on the cross of Calvary to pay for my sins. I receive You as Savior, Lord, and soon-coming King. I also thank You for writing my name in Your book of Life. Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2022: The Fruit of Joy: Evelyn Mason Wells: All Rights Reserved