Joy Pt 3: Essential Components of Joy
If you have watched the corresponding sermon for this blog series on the YouTube channel, you have an inkling of what I am about to share. The Lord really spoke to me through the story of Nehemiah, and parts of the story still sit in my heart and mind daily. The way Nehemiah went to God with his burdened heart, the way God responded, the provision for building the wall, the hearts of the people, and so on. The list could go on because the story is rich with insight into who God is and how he loves us with kindness and generosity. So, let’s pause there and allow me to remind you that the word is living. God is more than capable of speaking to you through His word right now. The word you need was written thousands of years ago, and waiting to speak to your situation today. I used to be intimidated and overwhelmed by the Bible, but with time, various study Bibles, and prayer, I am far more intrigued than intimidated. So, if you are struggling, this is your sign to never give up on spending time in God’s word.
Now, the essential components of Joy. Fruit is evidence that a tree or plant is healthy and fertile. The type of fruit it bears gives you a look into the type and condition of the roots. When we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us. One of the very early Girls’ Nights back in 2020, I remember studying trees and what happens during their transition from summer to fall. The message for that evening was titled, Let it Die, and what I learned about trees has stuck with me. You see, for a tree to make it through winter, it has to shed its leaves and some branches during the fall. To maintain the life of those leaves and branches, the tree must use its internal water source to nourish them. When the leaves are released, the tree can preserve its water, which will sustain it through the winter months.
Who do we know as the living water? I feel myself getting happy (as the old saints would say) as I type this, but sis, when the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us, He fills us with living water. The fruit tied to our sin has to die, and the Holy Spirit steps in to sustain us through the winter and prepare us for a fresh bloom. The harvest we await is detailed in Galatians 5:22–23(NLT): “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These are the crops we are working to harvest in our lives, and the book of Nehemiah gives us some insight into how to cultivate some of these fruits.
“The Joy of the Lord is our strength” was stated by Nehemiah amongst a unique set of circumstances. Chapter 8 opens with the people gathering for a unified purpose, but their hearts became heavy and burdened when they saw the weight of their sin up against the instruction of scripture. Nehemiah clarified the purpose of this time of celebration, and then we encounter the famous words, “The Joy of the Lord is our strength.”
Did you catch that? Unity, purpose, and clarity were all present when Joy came into the picture. These are the essential components of joy. If you lack joy, look at your life and see if there is unity, purpose, and clarity. Take some time to consider ways unity, purpose, and clarity or the lack thereof, show up in your world and their positive or negative impact on your experience with joy.
Until next time.