I used to think that joy was an emotion to experience great hapiness. In the past six years I have not felt very joyful yet I do have joy. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit so if you are walking in the Lord then you reap joy as your strength. My strength comes from the Lord and so I have joy. It may not be expressed in overwhelming giggles but it is expressed in prayer and worship.
These verses tell me and you to rejoice be joyful in the Lord. I still feel joy while be severely depressed. How can this be? When I am focused on serving the Lord then the present circumstances pale in comparison to God’s glory.
When we suffer or face afflictions we produce in us the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galations 5:22-23. Be encouraged God loves us and will continue to work in us.
