Fruit of the Spirit: Joy and Peace
I think joy is too often connected to the emotional feeling of happiness, that whenever we struggle with pain, sadness or loss, we question our lack of joy. I don’t believe that joy can just be a feeling, because feelings change in an instant and if this is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, it would not change based on our circumstances.
Joy and peace are instead effects of love.1 True joy and peace come from Christ’s command to love that we looked at yesterday. We can still have joy and peace without ignoring life’s struggles or putting on a mask of happiness because they are the fruit of obedience.
Joy
Jesus gives us insight into his own interior life of joy when he says, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”2
Jesus speaks about his joy in a dialogue that is bookended by his instruction to love.3 He says that this joy is full/complete and that we can have that joy too. The joy Jesus had was not lacking anything. We know this joy has nothing to do with feelings because Jesus was well on his way to his death when he speaks of this joy, and I doubt he felt too “overjoyed” at that thought.
Jesus was obedient to the Father and he offers us his joy if we will surrender our will in obedience to his will.
Peace
Jesus’ dialogue of love and joy is also intertwined with his dialogue about peace in the chapters before and after.4 The peace Jesus offers is again directly related to his command to love God and love our neighbour. We actively participate in peace when we are united in love, because peace is not found in hatred or hostility.5
Joy and peace are found in love and love is found in our obedience to God.
Preparing Our Hearts
Because we have been reconciled6 to God through Jesus’ loving sacrifice, we can be united in his love, joy and peace. We can be obedient in the call to love and we will know his joy and peace, even if we don’t always “feel” it.