STXWM Blog

^“ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Summertime in the South is not for the faint of heart. Temperatures that soar to unbearable heights, iced tea that can’t seem to stay iced, and leather car interior that is torture whenever you get in or out of a car. However, one of the sweetest parts of summer is the abundance of fresh produce. Ripe tomatoes fresh off the vine, red apples cold from the crisper drawer, and sweet sun warmed peaches. Can you tell I grew up in a small town? 

I always enjoyed learning about the fruits of the spirit in Sunday School because it was almost always accompanied by tangible representations for all the kids to enjoy. I can still sing the song we were taught to help us memorize this scripture and remember eating grapes and bananas and sour pineapple comparing them all to the nonedible but still very real fruits of the Spirit.

I always thought these fruits were like the ones from the market. You just pick and choose which one looks the most appetizing and you’re all set. But God in His infinite wisdom has different plans for us. In my three decades, and some change, on this earth I have realized that when praying for love we are given opportunities to love not necessarily easy people to love. When we pray for peace, we are not gifted with easy circumstances, but tumultuous times in which we can rest our eyes on the Prince of Peace. And so, in joy it is the same.  

Joy is a spiritual gladness that is placed deep in the presence of God. My friends who do not walk with Jesus or have a relationship with God at all are often puzzled by my and other Christian’s ability to praise the Lord and be joyful even amidst grief and unmet expectations. The spiritual gift of joy can be one of the most puzzling to witness and a powerful testimony in and of itself. 

Joy is consistent and surges beyond the temporary and is wreathed in the eternal. Joy is not conditioned on circumstances or fleeting when our emotions transform. No one, not even mature Christians, are exempt from emotional extremes. When asked, “How do I manifest joy? Where does peace that surpasses understanding come from? How can I trust God after all that I have been through?” These are not questions from an unbeliever but from sisters in Christ who have lived heartbreaking testimonies and are still trying to seek the face of God. If you have similar questions, beloved, you are in good company. Having the faith to ask such things means you are closer to the hand of God than you think. The beautiful thing about being close to the hand of God, is that it is outstretched to us and He will never leave or forsake us in our adventures on this earth.  (Hebrews 13:5)

 The difference I have come to observe is that spiritual dependence begets spiritual maturity and spiritual maturity begets fruits of the Spirit. Dependence is a daily, no wait, an hourly or perhaps a minute-by-minute glance to God. The more comfortable we are relying on God the more we see the gifts and fruits of His love in our lives. 

The new testament was mostly written in ancient Greek and the word used for joy in this passage is related to the Greek word for grace. This shows us that it is by the grace of God that we are gifted and blessed with the various fruits of the Spirit. It is who we say God is and how we show the world He is the One that reveals His blessings to those around us. 

I have always been called happy. People in my life would call me “blessedly ignorant” to be in the world and as happy as I am. What they, and I truthfully, couldn’t see was God paving the way for me to see past what sin has done to God’s creation and still see God and know what many call happiness. My “blessed ignorance” came to an end when I buried my first child. I saw what sin had done to this world and felt how the fall of man affected me and I didn’t hesitate. Just like a child calling to a parent, I lifted my tear-stained voice and cried out to God. He heard me and He answered me.

After the initial shock and heaviness of grief wore off, I remember washing dishes and praying. Through my prayerful ramblings I began to worship. I lifted my voice and I sang the song that just weeks prior had been played at my daughters’ funeral. “Then sings my soul my savior God to thee. How great thou art. And when I think that God, His son not sparing…” On and on I worshiped and begged God to transform my heart and this tragedy for His kingdom.

It has been through the death of my firstborn that I realized everyone was wrong about me. I am not happy, but I am blessed with joy. My family and friends will tell you that my emotions are as fickly and human as can be, but my joy is divine. In every single circumstance I can see the hand of God weaving and creating beauty within and through tragedy and sorrow. Joy is not always well received, and I honestly bear the burden of it gratefully. 

Let us see God and his hand upon lives first. Truly, may we be transformed by His love, His joy, His peace, His patience, His kindness, His goodness, His faithfulness, His gentleness, and His self-control. May we seek His kingdom first and let the Holy Spirit in wisdom and grace grant us what God holds for us. 

MaKenzie V.