On the surface, seeing joy as the Fruit of the Spirit may seem to imply that the Christian life should result in constant happiness. And when we aren’t happy, that must mean we are doing something wrong. But in this case, our initial impressions don’t tell us the whole story.
We have to remember that the Fruit of the Spirit is the result of what the indwelling Spirit of God gives to us. So what does the Spirit give us? One thing we know is true of the Spirit is that He is an integral part of our salvation, and He is described as “sealing” us (Ephesians 1:13). There is security in a seal, so that gives us reassurance of our salvation. The Spirit also gives us hope (Romans 15:13). Indwelling itself is even a benefit we gain from the Holy Spirit. Indwelling means that the Spirit lives in us and does not leave us (John 14:17).
Can you feel sad and still have joy? Yes, because this Fruit of the Spirit is not based on the circumstances of your life.
To recap, God lives in us, never walks away, and gives us hope because of the salvation He has granted us from our sin. If we understand even a fraction of what all of that means, it should cause us great joy. This Fruit of the Spirit, then, goes beyond standard happiness and is the result of an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Can you feel sad and still have joy? Yes, because this Fruit of the Spirit is not based on the circumstances of your life. When a friend turns their back on you, it is natural to feel hurt. But the Spirit is still with you, helping carry you through the pain. When you and your spouse are at odds with one another, it is natural to feel discouraged. But the Spirit is walking with you through every moment. When a loved one dies tragically, your grief can rise quickly. But the Spirit is there giving you hope. This is why Paul said to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Sorrows will come, but when we remember the Lord, joy will follow (Psalm 30:4).
If you are enjoying these posts and want to be alerted each week when we release new material, visit our app and subscribe to push notifications for Experience Commentary. Our App is available on The Apple Store and Google Play.
If you want someone to pray for you or have questions about your faith, feel free to reach out to us on our website by clicking here.
To listen to this commentary visit our The Experience Community Church Podcast on Spotify.
0 Comments