What does it mean to be joyful? How can one have Joy? How do we even know that we want joy? Real Joy?
When I first noticed that there was a difference between happiness and joy was in 1986 after I lost my mom! At that time I didn’t have words to articulate my experience. I just knew that it was possible to be sad and happy at the same time!
I was sad that my mom was gone. I was confused about why she was killed by the robbers that killed her. But I was not sad deep down in my heart. Deep down in my heart, I felt that she was alright and I would see her again.
I’m sure that there are better ways to express what I felt but my conclusion is that the happiness that comes from the spirit (as opposed to the soul) is Joy! Real Joy!
This deep-seated unshakable joy came to me when I received Jesus as my savior and friend! It has stayed with me since then! But I have noticed a few things about this Joy!
- Joy is a characteristic of the Kingdom of God (Rom 14:17).
- Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22)
- Joy overflows when a new disciple is born
- Joy is available always. It never goes away. So you never lose access to this Joy (1 Thess 5:16).
- Joy overflows when I obey an instruction of the Holy in my heart. Or when I successfully resist an attempt of the devil to trip that I was almost falling for! (John 15:11).
Over the years I have sensed this deep-seated real joy even when things were quite difficult in our lives. Don’t get me wrong. I still felt the pain but deep down there is this warmth and hope that is unshakable. It’s can be called peace or hope!
- The joy was there when we had no money
- It was there when the children were ill
- It was there when I had a stroke in 2017
- It was there when people said some mean and ignorant things to me or to Olu over the years.
- It doesn’t leave! I’m grateful to God for this unexplainable Joy!
Here is my conclusion
When Jesus comes to live in us by the Holy Spirit, He comes with His Joy! Whatever makes Him makes us happy too but in our spirit. We are united with Jesus in our spirit (1 Cor 6:17).
If you want your joy to overflow always then invest more time into making disciples! New disciples make Jesus and the angels in heaven happy! (Luke 15:10).
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Do you have an experience of this Joy? Please share in the comments section below!