July 7 — "Holy Spirit—Holy Joy"

Today's Reading: Acts 13:26-52

There’s a joy that outlasts hardship, outshines sorrow, and overwhelms fear—and spoiler alert: it’s not from this world. In Acts 13, even as Paul and Barnabas faced fierce opposition, Scripture says the disciples were “filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” That moment draws a glorious contrast between everyday happiness and heaven-born, Holy-Spirit-powered joy.

Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel boldly in Pisidian Antioch. While many Gentiles received the message with gladness, others stirred up trouble. But instead of panicking or pouting, the disciples were bursting with joy—not because of the hostility but in spite of it. Why? Because their joy wasn’t tied to good vibes or positive headlines or pleasant circumstances. It flowed from the Holy Spirit—who doesn’t hand out shallow smiles, but deep, durable delight.

See, happiness depends on circumstances; it’s a sunny-day emotion. But Holy Spirit joy? It’s rooted in God’s presence, anchored in His promises, and fueled by His unstoppable power—regardless of what's going on around us. Holy Spirit joy isn’t a feeling; it’s a force. It’s like someone turned on a light inside your soul that doesn’t flicker when the wind blows. It doesn’t ignore pain or pretend troubles aren’t real—but it remains confident and peaceful during those troubles.

You haven’t really experienced true joy until the joy of the Holy Spirit detonates in your soul. This isn’t your average, smile-for-the-camera happiness. No, this is joy that roars through your spirit like a holy wildfire—unbothered by circumstance, undiminished by trial, and completely untouchable by the enemy.

Today, we’re often caught chasing happiness: better jobs, easy relationships, or the next bite of instant gratification. But those things? They’re like cotton candy—bright and sugary, but they vanish before you finish your sentence. Holy Spirit joy, though, is more like a well dug deep into bedrock. It doesn’t run dry, even when everything else does. This joy is clean, steady, quietly fierce. It grounds us in storms and steadies our hearts in chaos—because it’s not man-made. It’s heaven-poured.

So, ditch the surface-level stuff. Go after the deep well. Soak in God’s Word. Invite the Holy Spirit to fill every corner of your soul. Don’t base your joy on fleeting feelings—build it on the Rock. Let the Spirit craft in you a joy that sings in valleys and shines through storms.

Today, may the Lord lift your eyes from life’s shaky ground and fleeting happiness. May His Spirit fill you with a joy that defies your trials. May you sing through the storm, and shine with a joy that leaves the world speechless.