Choose Joy

“Joy isn’t dependent on our circumstances, because it comes from within.”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”‭‭ Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I was asked to write about joy today, as we look forward to spending tomorrow celebrating the birth of our Savior. But the truth is, my heart is heavy and the circumstances around me are broken. I’ve been sitting with this verse for several weeks, trying to figure out how I can write about joy during this season.

And then, yesterday, my oldest asked me, “what is the difference between happiness and joy?” 

Something about conversations with my kids make these big feelings easier to understand. Happiness, I told him, is a feeling that’s based on our circumstances. Something funny happens, and we laugh, we get a gift, and we feel good, get a gold sticker from the teacher and that’s happiness. It comes and goes. 

But joy is deeper. 

We can have joy even in the midst of heartache. Joy isn’t dependent on our circumstances, because it comes from within. From the Holy Spirit inside of us. Joy isn’t necessarily an emotion, but a choice we have. 

I don’t know what your holiday season has been like. If there has been happiness or deep brokenness. But I do know that the joy that comes from Jesus is not dependent on either one. He gives the best gift this season, the fruit of the Spirit. For those who truly love and follow Him, we are able to experience love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control no matter the circumstances around us. It’s not of our own doing, but the Spirit filling us and giving us this gift. 

But how do we choose joy? How do we put down the broken and pick up the fruit when we don’t have control over what’s broken? We surrender. Our feelings, our perspectives, our desires. We remember that Jesus came for all of us, even those causing the brokenness. And we pray. Over and over again. Repeatedly giving it all to Him. Asking Him to fill us with His Spirit. Asking for joy. Over and over again. 

And He is good. Our father delights in giving good gifts to us, His children. And He will sustain us, carry us, and fill us with joy. 

That’s the yearlong promise we are celebrating tomorrow. That we don’t have to sit in the circumstances or depend on fickle emotions like happiness. We have the constant gift of the Father, fulfilled in Christ Jesus, and experienced through the Holy Spirit. We have the deep gift of choosing joy.

Prayer: Father, fill us with Your spirit today and every day. Help us to deeper understand Your joy and the gift of Your Son. Lord, help us choose You over ourselves, over the circumstances. Fix our eyes on You and the promise that You fulfilled in Jesus as we celebrate His birth tomorrow. Amen.

Written by Barbara, a mom of 4 repeatedly asking for and choosing joy

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