Fruit of the Spirit: Joy That Outlasts Circumstances

As we continue our devotional series on the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23, we move on to the "fruit" of joy.  

I recently had the chance to wander around downtown Orlando with my oldest and youngest sons as we searched for a taco restaurant to grab a meal before attending an Orlando Magic basketball game. 

We finally found our destination, and the stellar reviews of the place were spot on.  I had probably some of the best tacos I've had in my life.   We ate, joked, and told stories, then went to a game where the home team won by a landslide; we cheered and had a tremendous time. 

My boys are all nearly grown.  My oldest turned 31 this past week, and my youngest doesn't have long before he's sixteen and driving around on his own.  Spending time with them was pure joy for me.  I've missed being around them, hearing about what's happening in their lives, eating with them, laughing with them, and taking in every moment.  

I realized that I was happy, but there was more to it than that.  The pure joy that I felt was coming from somewhere else, someplace deeper.  The more I thought about it, the more I came to know that the joy I was feeling was something I'd had inside of me all along, but had failed to recognize as such.  

You see, joy is often mistaken for happiness, but the joy named by the Apostle Paul is far deeper and far more resilient. Happiness depends on what is happening around us; joy is anchored in what is true beneath us. Joy is not the absence of sorrow—it is the presence of God that holds us steady through it.

The psalmist writes, “You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound” (Psalm 4:7). Joy is not tied to abundance; it flows from trust. Paul echoes this conviction while imprisoned: “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). This is not denial of suffering; it is defiance of despair.

Biblical joy allows space for grief. Jesus himself wept, lamented, and carried sorrow. Yet joy remained present even in the shadow of the cross. Resurrection does not erase pain; it transforms it. “Weeping may linger for the night,” the psalmist says, “but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Joy follows the night—it does not deny it.

Joy becomes fruit when we learn to see God at work even in unfinished stories. It grows through gratitude, prayer, and honest community. Nehemiah reminds weary people rebuilding a broken city, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Joy does not drain us; it sustains us.

This joy is not loud or performative. Sometimes it is quiet endurance. Sometimes it is the ability to keep going. Sometimes it is hope that refuses to disappear.

Joy is not something we summon; it is something the Spirit grows when we remain rooted in God’s presence. It steadies us when circumstances feel unstable and reminds us that despair never has the final word.

Prayer
God of joy, anchor our hearts in your presence. Help us discover joy that sustains us, even in uncertain and difficult seasons. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. Where do you confuse joy with happiness?

2. What practices help you remain open to joy?

3. How might joy become a source of strength for you?