[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Fruit of the Spirit – Joy” subhead=”July 16, 2018 | Fruit of the Spirit” background_layout=”dark” background_overlay_color=”rgba(38,38,38,0.32)” _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_image=”https://truestoryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Fruits-of-the-Spirit-Joy.jpg” custom_padding=”200px||200px|” text_orientation=”left” header_fullscreen=”off” header_scroll_down=”off” image_orientation=”center” content_orientation=”center” custom_button_two=”off” button_two_icon_placement=”right” custom_button_one=”off” button_one_icon_placement=”right” /][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light”]
[dropcap]I[/dropcap] don’t always feel great. It’s easy to cover up. You just smile, nod and agree with people. They don’t even know.
Sometimes it’s a lot harder to hide. You simply have to withdraw from people for a while, get your own space. You need to chill out away from all the noise and try and quiet whatever is gnawing at you in your head.
When Jesus said that He came so that we could have joy, and have it to the full, what did He mean? Is it really possible to be happy all the time?
No, I don’t think it is. I haven’t felt happy all the time since I started following Jesus. Far from it – there are some times when I feel completely miserable.
What I do have, though, is a deep reassurance that, actually, things are ok. No matter what I go through when I’m feeling lonely late at night, no matter what someone says or how my day turns out, at the end of time it’s all going to be alright. Jesus will have it all under control.
Joy is not about feeling happy all the time. Things that happen in this life can make you feel sad. Joy is often an action, and it’s something that I can choose to take hold of every day. That is a challenge that I am working on, and the more time that I spend with Jesus, the more I will become like Him. He was able to go through far worse than I have experienced – He knew the fulfilment of His joy was coming.
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