Joy has been a regular focus of my attention through the years. Several verses from Scripture have challenged me -

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

When we are suffering, when we are suffering, when things just are going as we planned or as we desired, can we really have joy? Really? Or do I fake it. “Well, brother (sister) I’m just counting it all joy!”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, . . . “ (Gal. 5:22)

If the Spirit of God lives in me, how can I access that fruit? Can I really, really live in joy most of the time?

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:20

Looks like, to me, that Jesus’ joy wasn’t found in the momnent of getting his hands and feet pierced or in the ordeal of the other sufferings He endured. Joy wasn’t found in the trials He was going through but in the outcome. He fixted His eyes on the other side of the cross, on what the Father has promised.

“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” (Psalm 16:11)_

This verse, several years ago began to take hold of me. I’d read it many times over the years but this time I saw something deeper, something that became a sourece of life and joy to me. I had read it seeing that in God’s presence my joy can be made full. But I began to see that the FULLNESS of joy is when not only do I experience joy in His Presence, but that He experiences joy in my presence. That’s the fullness of joy.

To tap into the fruit of the Spirit which includes joy, to be able to be joyful regardless of the circumstance, I must be in His Presence. The word translated in English as “presence” is the Hebrew word panim, which means “faces” (plural). When we are in His Presence we are in His faces (the face of the Father, the face of the Son, and the face of the Spirit). What do I see when I look at His face or what look do I imagine He has on His faces when He is in my presence? It is a sad look? A disgusted look? A disappointed look? Or do I see the look of a Father, Son, and Spirit who have desired my presence and take joy in a lover of God coming to them?

That’s my source of joy. That is what releases the fruit. That’s how I can get to a joyful place even in the toughest circumstances.

He wants us joyful. We can be joyful. And our joy can be contagious!