The Golden State Warriors won the NBA Championship in 2015 and then again the last two seasons. We know they're loaded with talent, including Steph Curry and Kevin Durant (two of the best players in the world), and they’re the favorites to win a third straight Championship.
The Warriors have demonstrated how to play entertaining basketball for the fans, while also showing how much fun and enjoyment they have themselves.
Of course, that comes easily when you're able to score all over the court with multiple dynamic shooters, and win as often as they have, but it’s clear they've continually played basketball with joy.
Well, they did, anyway...and now they’re working to get it back.
This season has been harder because of injuries, conflict among teammates, and more losing than they're used to. ESPN.com wrote an interesting article with the headline: "'Had it. Lost it.': The Warriors and the Elusive Quest for Joy.”
The article describes the team’s perspective on how important joy really is. Kevin Durant told ESPN, "I feel like a lot of people confuse joy and happiness. I think happiness is a feeling that it's fleeting. It means you can go back and forth all the time. I feel like joy is something that you can stand on.
"And when you're enjoying what you do, you don't mind the adversity, the tough times, the challenges. The little obstacles you got to climb to get to where you want to go. I think joy is something that we can always hold onto."
That’s a deep and inspiring answer, and there is so much truth to what Durant is saying...not just for basketball, but also for life.
There's a difference between being happy only when you win versus consistently playing or living with joy. We can choose joy, stand on joy, and cling to joy, even when things aren’t going our way. It comes down to our perspective and the source of our joy.
James writes in chapter 1:2-3 (NLT), "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
When we value the development of our faith and the process of the journey, we can view trials and difficulties as an opportunity to experience joy. We don’t have to be happy about our hardships, but we can be joyful in knowing God is working in us and through us.
Warriors' guard, Shaun Livingston said, "Happiness can be fleeting. It can be temporary. But joy is kind of long-lasting. It's a spirit that's inside you."
We’ve seen the Warriors play with a spirit of joy out on the floor and it’s helped them get through the rigors of the season. So what about us? If we're actually following Jesus and submitting to the Holy Spirit, is genuine joy evident in our lives?
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) explains, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.”
A long-lasting and consistent joy is ultimately found because of God’s Spirit within us. Jesus tells us that when we abide in Him, stay connected to the source, and obey His commands, then we will bear much fruit.
He says, “I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing” (John 15:11 - AMP).
Today, if we’re lacking joy, let’s walk in the Spirit that produces it instead of allowing the disappointments to sap it from us. As Kevin Durant said, “I feel like joy is something that you can stand on.”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I desire to live in the Spirit and bear fruit. Experiencing joy found in You is so rewarding and I pray I’d remain joyful even during hardships. I know lasting joy comes from You. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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