S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Joy is something we all long for but that often seems difficult to grab hold of. Experiencing joy should be a part of every Christian's life. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, produced only by God...

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July 01 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Thornton Supporter Bible student, unprofitable servant

The experience of joy in the Christian life is the byproduct or fruit of faith.

If it is directly sought it will elude you. Michael has given an excellent answer- I wish to open a little more fully the relationship of joy to faith.

James 1:2
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.

In this passage James is telling us how faith is to be used in the face of trials that have dampened or even crushed our joy.

When you first believed in Jesus or in the moments of clarity for your faith, you apprehended the reality that all of your sins are forgiven and you are loved by your creator who loves you so much that he has redeemed you with the precious blood of Jesus. Knowing these things to be true you had joy.

Don't read into these words as a 'should be' joyful. While that is true it isn't the point James is making and the problem is a 'should' turns my attention back on myself and you can't will joy. The truth is these trials are by God's appointment designed to ween you from a reliance upon sight and train you as His disciple to live by faith.

The trial is like spiritual chemo therapy and the grief you feel is the loss of something important to you, but it will be more beneficial for your faith to be without. Jesus is the Great Physician and in His wisdom He knows what needs to be removed, even precious limbs for your spiritual health and more effective usefulness.

A little farther in the text James tells us to seek God's wisdom to see what he is up to.

He warns us about not asking in faith. Faith is concerned with seeing what God is accomplishing. My natural mind is concerned with getting out of the trial. It's like waking up in the middle of surgery in a panic frantically pulling out tubes not only nullifying the good of the surgery but finding myself in a worse condition.

When going through a trial once a friend told me that God has gone to a lot of trouble to orchestrate this trial. It's to draw you closer to himself. I felt like He was trying to destroy me. He was cutting away parts of me that I thought were the most useful. I had no feelings of joy but by God's grace and the help of faithful friends I could count it all joy in anticipation of gaining a more intimate knowledge of Jesus.

All of the apostles teach this same thing.

1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Our ability to see more fully by faith our unseen Savior is the reward of persevering faith. Believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

This is why in the trial we can count it all joy because we can know where we are going. We have a glorious destination and some pretty good refreshment along the way. 

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Eliot

Even though the trial is forced upon us, it is our wisdom that comes from above that we submit to it and choose to let let go of what God is taking away in order to have more of Him.

October 12 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Johnnatta Giles Supporter Spirit Filled Christian

I love this question :) the answer is so simple. The closer you get to God the more you feel his joy on the inside of us. If you really want to experience the joy of God give yourself to Him daily. Prayer I have found is the most joyful time of my days. I talk to God often and no matter where I am. The more I connect with Him the more I feel His joy well up on this inside of me. The holy Spirit is what gives us this joy. Because it is the Spirit of God that lives on the inside of us. 

I know that after I was baptized in the Holy Spirit I felt more joy. The Holy Spirit was always apart of me but after that He was flooded in me. Like the Springs of living water overflowing inside of me. If you don't know about the baptism of the Holy Spirit thats okay. I actually didnt believe in it. Until i started studying in acts and God told me that it is still for me today. I just told God my heart was open and i asked of His spirit to come flood my soul. And i began to speak in another tongue and my life was completely changed. If you truly want to experience that joy i would recommend the baptism of the Holy Spirit. God bless you i will be praying for you :) i may not know who u are but God does.

January 10 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report