As a fruit of the Spirit, joy stands shoulder to shoulder with such virtues as patience, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). In our fantasies, however, many of us long to degrade joy into some sort of spiritual dope – preferably a high that comes from a gloriously exciting spiritual experience and once we get our fix we are pumped for the rest of our lives.

In contrast, God’s precious Word focuses on spiritual reality. It reveals such a glaringly different view of joy that we are forced to discard our childish notions along with fairy godmothers armed with magic wands. As we grow spiritually it slowly dawns that truth is more challenging but, ultimately, more rewarding.

Paul was not only incarcerated but in dire straits when he wrote so often of joy and emphasized rejoicing always. In his commentary on this epistle (Philippians), a Bible scholar described Paul’s definition of joy as a “defiant ‘Nevertheless!’ ”

Taken from Christian Joy: The Secret Revealed

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