“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)

Did you see Pixar’s newest movie “Inside Out”? It narrowed down the human personality into five main emotions: disgust, sadness, anger, fear and joy. Although this film very accurately portrayed what it looks like to have all of your emotions working together inside your brain, and it’s a psychologically sound film, I think that it gets one thing wrong.

Spiritually speaking, our joy cannot be lost or forgotten about.

Joy is usually synonymous with happiness. But even in day-to-day conversations, we make the distinction that happiness and joy are two very separate things. If I describe someone as a joyful person, that doesn’t mean to say that they are happy all of the time; it means that there is joy that flows out of them and reveals its face in the form of happiness.

Joy is a choice.

Rick Warren gave us this definition of joy: “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.”

The two parts of his definition are “quiet confidence” and “determined choice.” We feel a sense of joy when we praise God and know that He is in control is a daily, minute-by-minute choice. When we rest in joy, we are truly able to acknowledge the one who is in control of it all.

“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:22)

This passage in John says how no one can take away our joy. It talks of joy like it is an actual object, something of eternal value and everlasting ownership.

I want that! I want the kind of joy that is rooted so deeply in my heart that nothing can cause it to waver.

That is joy. Joy is a choice. Let joy outpour from you as the confidence in God and His spirit fill you up.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

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