Joy - this tiny little word contains so much enthusiasm and pleasure. It is second on the list of the Fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. It means to have a great feeling of pleasure and happiness. I guess you could say that joy is the step up after happiness, it's the completeness of it.
How do we feel and seek out Joy?
I believe that God is the completion of our happiness, and that through His Spirit we can feel this deep sense of pleasure and excitement in knowing that He has saved us and made a way for us here. From the non christian prospective I think to be joyful human beings we have to seek out the things that make us feel complete and allow our joy to be shown from that peace or completeness inside of us.
How can we express and share our joy with others?
This isn't a simple task because, as we stated joy isn't the same thing as happiness.. it almost has to go deeper that that surface emotion. Here are some ideas that I've come up with to express and share your deep joy with the people around you:
Celebrate them even when they feel like it wasn't worth recognition
Tell stories, when appropriate, of things that you rejoice over in your life
Laugh often, be aware of the little joys throughout the day
Share something with someone that brings you joy (ie. coffee, sports, games, recipes)
Be people who stay away from gossip and complaining (It will diminish your joy and witness of joy)
I know that these things sound great in theory but also are challenging when you're not in the mood and your day was terrible. Being joyful doesn't mean you have to be the person who never stops smiling. Being joyful means that you live a life of celebration, and you understand and acknowledge the good things you have. I pray that as we pursue joy together you will feel peace and grace in knowing that no one is perfect and okay 100% of the time but that there is always a reason to celebrate something! Excited to see how this challenges us. Talk with you soon. -Sophia Marie