Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . JOY"*

"Joy" is this week’s fruit of the Spirit. It occurs to me that there are different types or degrees of joy.

There is a kind of joy from a good joke, or when something funny happens to us or around us. A little girl became restless as the preacher's sermon dragged on and on. Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered, "Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?" (If you didn't already know, I love minister jokes. They keep us pastors from becoming overinflated.)

There is another kind of joy and satisfaction in accomplishment - take education for example. Each course, ceremony and certificate brings a sense of joy. I have felt similar joy after completing a long project. It feels good to look back and see the accomplishment of my efforts.

There is a kind of joy in fulfilling a dream. Our wedding album has one rarely viewed picture which I hope stays that way. In this picture I have a funny smirk. The photographer suggested a serious pose, and I just couldn’t do it. I was so happy that I had to smile, and when I tried not to it came out anyway.

I remember the joy when our two boys were born. When Ian was only a few hours old, I was holding him and started to cry. Jan thought I was worried about being a father and the new responsibility it would bring. "No," I said, "It just feels so good."

As the boys grow, we also experience the joys of their accomplishments. They are blessed with great reading ability and do well in school. Even better, their teachers tell us the boys are a joy to have in their classes (which makes me wonder about aliens and body snatching - just joking).

There is one kind of joy which troubles me, however. It’s the kind of joy which we can have even when things are not going well, even when things are not going my way. The apostle Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice." (Philippians 4:4).

James writes, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." (James 1:2-3).

I wish I had this perspective more often. All too often my joy depends on how life is at the time. It’s easy to have joy when life is good. Passages like this give me hope that there can be joy even when life isn’t so good. I don’t know about you, but my life doesn’t always go so well.

In my mind’s eye I see myself in a small boat, drifting on the sea. There is water all around, but I can’t drink because its salty. There is no land on the horizon, and there are no ships in view. If something doesn’t change, I will die of thirst. A dark cloud passes over, and I think, "That’s just great, now its going to rain, too." Sure enough, as if to mock me it starts to rain.

Soon water hits my bald spot, and the droplets combine to run down my forehead. I tip my head, but then the water runs down my neck. I whine about this because I hate feeling cold and wet. Soon I add up my afflictions. I’m cold and wet, its raining, and I’m thirsty.

I poke my tongue out to wipe the water away from my mouth and that’s when I catch a drop. It is sweet. Man am I ever thirsty. I look to heaven and open wide to catch every drop of life as it falls from the sky. This rain, this adversity, actually brings life from above.

Joy is a perspective on life, that regardless of what happens to me I can allow God's joy to pour into me, that my outlook is more than my circumstances, more than what happens to me. Life doesn’t come from what happens to me, but from what happens within me as I allow God to bring his joy. I have known a few people like this. Its amazing to see. They really enjoy life.

"Lord, help me to experience joy even in the tough times. Thank you for joy in the good times, may I experience your joy even when life doesn’t go my way."

Hope this helps,

Troy

ON FIRE is a weekly letter of encouragement by Troy Dennis. This letter published May 9, 2005. www.onfireletter.com