“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy….” Galatians 5:22
Joyfulness is everywhere commanded as a Christian
duty. Discontent is a most detestable fault. Morbidness
is a sin. Fretfulness grieves God. It tells of unbelief
within the heart. It destroys the soul’s peace. It
disfigures the beauty of Christian character. It not
only makes us soured and unhappy in our own hearts
—but its influence on others is harmful. We have no
right to project the gloom of our discontent over any
other life. Our ministry is to be ever toward joy. There
is nothing so depressing in its effect upon others, as
morbidness. Hence, for the sake of those among whom
we live, and upon whose lives we are forever unconsciously
either casting shadows or pouring sunshine, we should
seek to learn this Christian art of contentment.
Joy brightens a life. It shines in the face like sunlight.
It makes the eyes sparkle.
But what is this joy—which is a fruit of the Spirit?
Anybody can be joyous when all things go well,
when health is good, and business is prosperous,
and the cup of love runs over, and the circle of
friends is unbroken. The joy which the Holy
Spirit gives, lives on in the heart when all earthly
sources of gladness have failed. It hides like a
rainbow in the midst of the darkest cloud.
–By J. R. Miller
