Joy
Good morning, grandchildren!
I wish I were with you right now so I could give you a
great big hug and tell you how much I love you!
“But the Spirit gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
— Galatians 5:22-23a
International Children’s Bible (ICB)
This verse tells us that when God’s Spirit lives in us, He grows special “fruit” in our hearts. One of those fruits is joy.
What is joy?
Joy is a happy feeling deep inside that comes from God.
It’s more than just smiling because something fun happened.
Joy is knowing:
“God loves me. God is with me. God is taking care of me.”
You can have joy even when things aren’t perfect.
Joy is different from happiness. Happiness often comes from what happens around us. Like getting a treat, winning a game, or having a fun day. But joy comes from God inside us.
So even if you’re having a hard day, you can still feel joy because God doesn’t leave you.
Let’s think of it like this:
If your favorite toy breaks, you feel sad. That’s normal. But joy whispers, “Even though I’m sad, God still loves me and will help me.”
Where does joy come from?
Joy grows when we:
remember God’s love
thank Him for good things
trust Him when things are hard
choose to see His blessings
Sometimes joy looks like singing. Sometimes joy looks like helping someone. Sometimes joy is just a quiet, peaceful smile because you know God is near.
A quick example: Imagine you’re walking outside on a cloudy day. ☁️
You don’t see the sun, but you know it’s still there behind the clouds.
That’s like joy. Even when life feels cloudy, God’s love is still shining. And that gives us joy.
How can we show joy?
We can show joy by:
being thankful instead of complaining
smiling and encouraging others
remembering God’s promises
choosing hope
Joy is a light that helps other people see Jesus in us.
Let’s Pray Together
Father God,
Thank You for giving us Your Spirit, and for growing joy in our hearts. Help us remember that real joy comes from You. When we feel sad, worried, or upset, help us trust that You are still with us and still good. Let Your joy shine through us today.
We love You. Amen.