Fruit Of The Spirit Sports Devotional Sample

Leader's Guide Lesson 3: Joy 

Theme:  

Joy is different and better than happiness because we can experience it even when things are not going our way.

Coaches' Notes:

My players hear my sayings a lot. I have many of them. Some of them are on posters around my field as a daily reminder (as if they don’t hear me say them enough each day). Some are even on practice t-shirts. But one saying has been a constant as long as I have been coaching: “Control Controllables.” 

Control Controllables has been a mainstay saying because even very young players understand it. For example, younger players tend to express emotions on the field when things go wrong. We talk about how we can’t control things like umpires’ strike zones, other players’ conduct, other coaches yelling, field conditions, and the weather. In contrast, we can control things like our effort, our attitude, and our passion for the game.

This helps explain the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is not completely controllable because it depends on our circumstances (which definitely is not entirely controllable). Things go my way today, I’m happy. I’m getting to do what I want to do, I’m happy. I have to study for a test, maybe I’m not so happy.

Joy is different. I’m doing what I want to do, I’m joyful (and happy). But when I’m studying for a test, I can still be joyful. How? Because I can rest well that night knowing I’ll do better on the test than if I didn’t study. I’m prepared. Lose a big game? I may be unhappy, but I can still be joyful knowing I played hard, that I can learn from the loss, and that sometimes losses help us prepare to compete better down the road.

If we can help prepare our players for living joyfully, beyond their circumstances, they will benefit immensely when they face more serious obstacles that life tends to throw at them as they get older.

Discussion Questions: 

1.) What makes you happy? What makes you sad?

2.) The Study Guide says “you can’t be truly happy when things aren’t going your way, but you can be joyful.” What’s the difference?

3.) Can someone give an example of how we can have joy even when things aren’t going right?

Discussion:

What makes you happy? A particular activity? A particular food? Spending time with friends? A vacation spot? When things are going your way? Winning games in your sport?

Now, let’s turn it around and think about what makes you sad. Being alone? Having to do things you don’t like to do (like cleaning your room or doing chores)? Losing a game or not playing well?

What makes you sad may be the opposite of what makes you happy. That makes sense since happiness and sadness are opposites. When Paul says joy is a fruit of the Spirit, he is not simply talking about happiness. Being happy is a temporary feeling. It changes with circumstances. And circumstances are not entirely within our control. This means it’s impossible to be happy all the time.

Joy is different, though. Biblical joy is not a feeling or emotion, but a very different kind of emotion that goes beyond happiness in the moment. It’s not dependent on your circumstances because its basis is in God, not the things of earth (like circumstances, material things, or success) Or, another way to say it: you can’t be truly happy when things aren’t going your way, but you can be joyful.

What’s the difference? Happiness comes from our circumstances. If I play well, I’ll be happy. If we win, I’ll be happy. If things are going my way, I’ll be happy. But if things aren’t going my way, I won’t be. Joy doesn’t come from our circumstances. It comes from God. That’s why it is a fruit of the Spirit. I can be joyful (and happy) when things are going my way. But I can also be joyful when they aren’t. For example, I play poorly in a game. I won’t be happy. But I may have joy knowing God blessed me with the opportunity to play. And that God can help me get better and learn even in defeat. I can rest easy knowing I gave my best. This is the joy that goes beyond our circumstances, and can only come from knowing a loving God is in control and can use defeat for his good and a bigger purpose (Romans 15.13).