What is Joy? Let’s get a solid, working definition before we do anything else, then I’ll tell you more about how joy is related to love, how it is something of a derivative (though I hesitate to call Joy derivative of anything, as in my mind, the term derivative carries a very negative connotation). So, what is Joy?

Webster’s dictionary defines it as
1 a: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight
b: the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety
2: a state of happiness or felicity : bliss
3: a source or cause of delight

To me, this is only a start to a good, biblical definition, as it is purely focused on a temporary emotional reaction to a situational stimulus that you find pleasing, but Joy, biblically speaking, that is lacks something, as the Joy discussed in the Bible is really a permanent thing because of the love shown us in God’s grace and mercy toward us. It buoys us in the midst of hard times because God’s outpouring of love for us is never changing, no matter what situations may try to tell us.
The Greek term translated as Joy is related to the word for gift or grace. The word for Joy is Chara, where the word typically translated as Grace or Gift is Charis, the translation is actually interrelated, because Chara actually carries the connotation of joy because of grace, according to Strongs Greek Concordance. Joy is a reaction or response to grace, which is undeserved love or favor.

Ok, so let me break that down in English… Joy is typically defined as a temporary reaction to something good that happens in your life. That is all well and good, but why would the Holy Spirit tell Paul to include such a temporary, typical reaction to passing things in his list of things that come as a result of the Holy Spirit’s involvement in our lives? There must be something more to it, and lo and behold, there is. The vocabulary used to express grace and joy share a common root in Greek: Char. Its definition is favor. Charis is undeserved favor (grace). Chara is joy because of favor. So, that means that joy can and should be a regular part of our life experience as people who are indwelled with the Holy Spirit, because we have Him, but also because of God’s history in our lives and world, and His current actions on our behalf which are in keeping with His character.

How can we grow in joy, then? How can we tap into this even in the midst of a PLANdemic? How did Paul have joy even in the pit of a prison in Philippi? The Holy Spirit works on the inside of us to heal, deliver, and strengthen us, and to sense His presence in and on us every day. These truths trump whatever situations we may be walking through. They allow us to walk in joy because we know that material situations are neither permanent nor truly real. We know that the REAL is actually that God is Good. That allows us to walk in joy, no matter what the bank says, no matter what the boss says, no matter what the doctor says. God’s goodness, His love, His grace, shown through the Cross and through His ongoing work of sanctifying and growing us into the very likeness of Jesus form the root of our joy in the face of lost income, threats of homelessness, or deteriorating health or relationships pushed to the brink from stress.

Wow, As I am writing this, the Presence is super thick in my living room… Holy Spirit wants to pour joy into us today, so place yourself in a mode of receiving and I am going to pray for us to be made more consciously aware of not only the Holy Spirit’s presence, but to receive greater levels of joy because we are constantly reminded of the goodness of God rather than meditating on the negative situations in life.

In the name of Jesus, I release the fruit of Joy over all who read or watch this devotion. Remind us of the goodness of God, of the evidence of your Love in our lives, and help us to focus on that rather than situations and narratives which swirl around us. Amen.