Short and sweet thought for the week…
We are all joy spreaders. We either bring joy to everyone when we enter a room or everyone is joyful when we leave a room. Most of us would rather people feel joyful when we come, not when we go. However, we can’t give to others what we don’t have.
If we aren’t calm, we can’t help others be calm. If we have no peace, we can’t help others find peace. If we have no joy, we can’t help others be joyful. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Asking God to manifest His fruit in our lives helps us share it with others. We all need more love, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control,…and JOY.
Many do not understand that happiness and joy are not always synonymous. Happiness is conditional and depends on what happens to us. Joy runs much deeper because it transcends events and feelings.
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus endured being crucified because of the joy set before Him. He could see beyond what was happening.
True joy comes from knowing God and having a relationship with Him. In God’s presence, we find true joy (Psalm 16:11). This joy is an attitude of the heart that comes from trusting a faithful God.
As joy becomes part of our spiritual identity, others may notice. Unbeknownst to us, we can exude a certain faith and confidence in God regardless of our circumstances. It can manifest itself with tiny expressions of peace and calm, or delightful smiles and laughter. Either way, it’s always welcomed when it enters a room.
“These things have I spoken to you that my joy may
remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” ~John 15:11
