Known by Their Fruit: Joy

Matthew 7:16-20: "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them".

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

Ah, joy. It sounds easy, doesn’t it? Like it’s just one good cup of coffee or a Saturday afternoon away. But if you’ve been around for more than a minute, you know that joy—the real kind, the “fruit of the Spirit” kind—runs a whole lot deeper. The Greek word here is chara, which isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about a kind of unshakable happiness rooted in God, not our circumstances. It’s like spiritual Teflon. Life throws stuff at you, but true joy doesn’t let it stick.

Paul wasn’t joking when he listed joy right after love in Galatians 5:22. Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). And let’s be clear: Jesus wasn’t talking about a good mood or a day with zero traffic. This is joy that sticks around when life feels like one giant Monday.

What Real Joy Looks Like (Hint: It’s Not a Grin-and-Bear-It Thing) Biblical joy is so much more than a smile or a positive vibe. It’s a deep-seated, unbreakable confidence that, no matter what’s going on, God’s got this. It’s laughing at the days ahead because you know Who holds them. It’s like the Holy Spirit is that one friend who always finds the silver lining, even when you’re ready to throw in the towel.

Paul knew this well. Here’s a guy who wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) while sitting in prison. Prison. Not exactly the Four Seasons. Yet he found joy because his joy wasn’t based on where he was but Who he was with. And that’s the kicker—joy isn’t about our situation; it’s about our Savior.

Growing in Joy (Or, How to Laugh More and Stress Less) This kind of joy takes some serious Holy Spirit work, but there are ways to cultivate it. Here’s what I’m learning (and failing at, and trying again):

1. Find Joy in the Source: The closer we are to Jesus, the more His joy fills us. It’s simple math: more Jesus = more joy. Spend time with Him, and suddenly, life’s annoyances feel smaller.

2. Look for Little Gifts: Joy often hides in the small stuff—a sunny day, a warm cup of tea, a text from a friend. Start spotting these mini-gifts, and you’ll start seeing joy everywhere.

3. Choose Gratitude Over Grumbling: Real joy doesn’t mean we ignore hard stuff, but it does mean we choose thankfulness in the middle of it. Gratitude flips our perspective and reminds us there’s still good in the world (even on a Monday).

4. Laugh at Yourself: Seriously, God gave us humor for a reason. Sometimes, joy is choosing to laugh at the craziness instead of letting it steal your peace.

Becoming People of Joy. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). When people see us radiating joy—real joy—it’s a neon sign pointing to Jesus. This kind of joy doesn’t come from a perfect life; it comes from a perfect Savior. And let’s be honest, the world needs more people who can laugh even when life is hard.

Ultimately, joy is a sign of the work of the Holy Spirit in us. In Matthew 7, when Jesus says, “By their fruit, you will recognize them,” He’s telling us that our fruit should point others to God. When we live in the joy of the Lord, it’s a testimony to the world that our hope and happiness are not based on circumstances, but on a relationship with the one true God. This kind of joy is a witness to the world—a reminder that no matter what happens, we belong to a Savior who is in control.

As we grow in joy, we become people who reflect God’s character more clearly. We start living in a way that shows others there’s something different about us—something that points to the One who holds all things together. So, let’s embrace this joy, even in the hardest moments. Because when we do, it becomes evident to the world around us: we have a hope that goes beyond this life, and that’s something worth smiling about.