Fruit of the Spirit: Joy (Chara)

Photo of Joyful Coffee by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash.

When I order coffee, they often ask for a name to notify me that my drink is ready. I use the name “Joy.” Too often I’ve had my actual name morphed into something completely different and my Pumpkin Spice Latte given to someone else. Instead, I picked something short and sweet.

Another reason I chose the name Joy is because I want to be joyful. In the Bible, names reflect the character of the person. While I find it easy to be joyful when things are going well, how can I have joy during trials and tribulations?

First, what does joy mean? The New Testament word for joy is χαρά (chará) in Greek, which Strong’s Concordance defines as cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness, and joy. I don’t know about you, but my first feelings when I face disappointment are not cheerfulness or a calm delight. However, the Bible shows us how to have joy despite affliction. Notice the definition does not say happiness, which is often run by circumstances. God’s strength enables us to have joy in any season.

Joy in hard times

James 1:2 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (NKJV)*. To hear this statement by itself, we may wonder if James is a little loopy. However, when we keep reading that passage, we see why he was joyful. James 1:3-4 says, “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James knows that God works in our pain in ways He couldn’t in our comfort. When our faith is tested and we endure with Holy Spirit power, we learn patience which leads to completeness in our character.

We can also learn to rejoice in our sufferings when we follow the model of how Christ suffered well. He understands what it is like to feel disappointment. Jesus was rejected and abandoned by the disciples who were closest to Him in His darkest hour before the cross. Then the Father turned His back on Jesus when He became sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) to pay the debt we owed for our trespasses.

When Jesus experienced the pain of the cross, Hebrews 12:2 tells us that “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus didn’t focus on the problems in front of Him. Instead, Jesus focused on the reward that would come when He had completed His work on the cross and defeated death by rising from the grave.

Jesus focused on the future, and we should too. First Peter 4:13 says, “but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” The future glory God has for us far outstrips the current pain we experience. That doesn’t mean that we don’t hurt or have real problems. Jesus obviously was in excruciating agony on the cross. Instead, let God build spiritual muscles in us while we endure hardship. Strangely enough, sufferings help us to know God better. Often, we feel and receive His love the most when we hurt. The beauty is that God doesn’t leave us alone in our pain. He’s there with us.

Turn Mourning into Joy

Isaiah 61:3 says, “To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Jesus read this passage in the synagogue in His local town, proclaiming the truth of these verses was fulfilled in their presence. Jesus came to give us beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for our mourning. He doesn’t leave us heavy laden, but bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19) and gives us a yoke that is easy (Matthew 11:30). Instead of getting stuck in the season of mourning, we need to hand our hurts to Jesus and let His healing rush in. When we spend time with the Lord, we can be joyful no matter our circumstances.

Joy is Found in the Lord’s Presence

Scripture tells us that we need to get into God’s presence to find the joy we desire and have been lacking. Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Our natural selves are wired to seek pleasure in a life of peace and quiet where nothing goes wrong. We want life easy peasy, without any drama. Anyone who has lived beyond the birth canal knows life contains trouble.

Yet, Jesus says in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” We need to abide in the Lord. The closer we are to the truths of Jesus, the more joy filled our lives will be. Only He can satisfy the longings our hearts desire. When we hold onto Christ as our rock of salvation, the storms of life may rage against us, but we will not drown.

So, whatever you do, from ordering coffee to driving to work, do it with the joy of the Lord as your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Focus on the future character growth that God has for you through the process and let God’s presence comfort you in the moment. He’ll never leave your side so you can be full of joy.

• How have you experienced joy in hardship?
  
• Which verses encourage you to stay joyful despite your circumstances?
  

* All Scriptures are NKJV.