Joy > Peace > Patience

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

A few years ago, I was speaking at a men’s retreat and was discussing our life and what we have learned. I looked up the verse listed above and noticed for the first time the use of “Long Suffering” instead of Patience in the older King James Version of the bible. I called my pastor and actually had to ask him if long suffering was the same as patience. His answer was kind a lightning bolt for me, it had never occurred to me. I have never had anyone call me patient. Ever. Substitute the phrase Long Suffering and I think I might qualify. We have endured our share and I think we have done so while maintaining faith and unity.

I think the fruit of the Spirit that I have most identified with is Peace because of this. I think it has been the most precious part of my faith walk to me, in spite of pain over time we found peace. However, in the last few weeks I have been challenged in a different area. Logan proposed to Aly and she said yes. Since we knew that was happening peace flew out the window and straight up Joy has taken over. It’s hard to describe.

I do not think of the Fruits of the Spirit as a stair stepped process, first one and then the other until you somehow master them all, that would lead to pride. I think you can be working on one and still suck at the other. I think God can rotate which area He is working on in me. Self-control is not a strong point for me, I eat too much. I talk too much. I also think that since we have experienced unimaginable pain, the concept of joy can be hard to grasp. We have actually felt guilty for feeling good. Maybe it is due to that pain that we grew to understand the value of having peace.

But I have to tell you, Joy flooding into your life like a tidal wave is definitely something to behold. I think I have learned in the past couple of weeks that I should let joy out more. Maybe I do not identify myself as having joy in spite of it’s obvious presence in my life. Why? Really, I think I am one of the most blessed people I know.

I should be more expressive of joy. I think I am much happier inside than I appear on the outside. Being a Claiborn since birth I can tell you that our funeral face and our party face is pretty much the same. It works for all occasions. Maybe I could work on making sure people know what I look like from the inside. Joy is indeed possible.

In the presence of having the option, why do I not let Joy reign more often?

Are we afraid to express Joy due to thinking it might end if we do?

Challenge: Find Joy in your life. Find Joy in others. Find Joy in the fact that the creator of the universe finds Joy in you.

Rick Claiborn