I remember being a teenager sitting in church and hearing a pastor talk about the “Fruit of the Spirit.” Honestly, he said something after mentioning that phrase, but as soon as I heard him say “Fruit of the Spirit,” I stopped listening. What did he mean?
I’d heard of “Fruit of the Loom,” the “Grapes of Wrath,” and “Fruit by the Foot,” but what in the world was the Fruit of the Spirit? My brain went down a rabbit trail, thinking God was about to deliver a basket of grapes, apples, oranges, and blueberries to my front door. I was totally lost. But five minutes later, the pastor mentioned the fruit again, followed up with words like peace, joy, kindness, and more.
What Is the Fruit of the Spirit?
Looking back on that time in my life is funny, but it did make me think and ask questions. As I looked, I found the verse the pastor spoke about that day:
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
The Meaning of the Fruits of the Spirit
When we see the Fruit of the Spirit in someone’s life, that tells us that they’re being guided by, living in, and following Christ, which is great! However, my brain was having a hard time understanding how someone could produce fruit like goodness and faithfulness, let alone those other words mentioned. So I kept digging, and this is what I learned.
Love
Jesus once told His followers that loving God and loving people are the two most important things we can do in this life. He then said that everything else hangs on those two ideas. Love makes sure someone is taken care of, seen and heard, and supported, no matter what.
Following Jesus’ way means choosing to love everyone around us, regardless of their lifestyle, background, upbringing, social status, political views, and so on. We love them as God loves them; we love them as God loves us. The more we work to love the people around us, the more the Holy Spirit grows the fruit of love in our lives.
For more on love, check out this article.
Joy
This word used to make me mad. Life isn’t all fun, laughter, and great memories. Life can be tough, and some days are really terrible.
The Bible tells us that the Apostle Paul experienced the lowest of times as he sat in prison. But it was there that he penned these words:
… I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances … I can do all this through him [Christ] who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 NIV
Paul had a resilient cheerfulness that was anchored in the goodness of God and the work of Christ through him. Joy is more than physical and emotional happiness in the moment. Instead, it’s a positive attitude rooted in the belief that God is working all things together for good, no matter what our life’s circumstances look like.
For more on joy, check out this article.
Peace
The world is crazy and loud, and there doesn’t seem to be much good to look forward to. I mean, turn on the news and it’s absolute chaos. How are we supposed to find peace in the middle of so much conflict?
When we look at Galatians 5, the Greek word used for “peace” is “eirēnē.” This word can mean a state of freedom from violence or war, but it can also mean a state of fearlessness, assurance, and being worry-free, even in the middle of chaos.
That kind of peace can only be experienced when you’re rooted in your good Father. Peace is the result of knowing that your future, current needs, and eternity are being cared for by the God who created the universe. The Bible says that the same God that ensures that the birds eat every day will meet the needs that you have, too (Matthew 6:26-27).
For more on peace, check out this article.
Patience
It’s no secret that we live in a busy world. There always seems to be more things to do than there is time in the day, and more people to please than we have time to help! In the Galatians 5, the Greek word we translate into “patience” is “makrothymia.” This word represents not just patience, but endurance, constancy, steadfastness, and perseverance, especially in the face of trouble.
Patience controls our responses. When frustration, annoyance, or impulse tells us to act, patience keeps us in check. This isn’t easy, and we’ve all experienced situations where we wish we’d been more patient. One helpful way to develop patience is to remember that we’re not the center of the universe. God is. Even when things don’t align with our schedule and preferences, we can trust that God’s timeline is perfect.
Kindness
Kindness shapes our interactions with others. This can feel easy until we’re asked to work with that one coworker who’s a little challenging or spend time with that one family member who’s always complaining.
Patience (as we learned in the previous section) invites us to take a deep breath and not respond with anger. Kindness takes this to the next level—choosing to go out of our way to speak and live with love.
Jesus showed kindness when He sought out people who needed help. Often, He was on His way to do something important, yet He allowed Himself to be detoured to meet the physical and spiritual needs of others. We show kindness when we take time to notice and meet the needs of the people around us, even if it doesn’t fit in our schedule.
For more on kindness, check out this article.
Gentleness
Have you ever had a stuffed animal or a really comfortable blanket? When I hear the word “gentle,” I think of comfort, safety, support, and true relaxation. Someone who is gentle approaches others slowly and with ease, helping them feel safe, cared for, heard, and comfortable in all circumstances.
Jesus was a source of comfort to broken and hurting people. When it seemed like the whole world was against them, Jesus was on their side. Followers of Jesus are called to live the same way. When we enter a space, we can extend gentleness by looking for those who might feel like outsiders and, with care, turning them into friends.
For more on gentleness, check out this article.
Goodness
The most I heard this word when I was growing up was when I’d do something bad and someone in my family would say, “Oh my goodness.” Naturally, I thought “goodness” wasn’t a good thing at all! So what does it mean?
Well, the word that’s used for “goodness” in Galatians 5 can also mean “beneficence.” This is a big word that means “the act of doing good or promoting the well-being of others.” When we look at the life of Jesus, He was all about meeting the needs of others—He consistently gave His time, energy, and wisdom to anyone in need. By paying attention to the people around us and contributing to their well-being, we can grow in goodness, too.
For more on goodness, check out this article.
Faithfulness
Sometimes, faith feels easy. When life is going well and God feels close by, faith can seem so simple.
But what about those times when you don’t feel God’s closeness? Or when you question your faith? Or when God doesn’t answer your prayers the way you hoped He would? When you go through those times like those, how do you continue in faithfulness?
“Faith” is similar to the word “trust.” When you trust someone, it’s easy to put your faith in them. How do you develop trust? By spending time with someone, observing their character and how they act, and eventually, entrusting them with something and seeing how they respond.
When we spend time praying and in God’s Word, we get to know God’s character. When we trust God with our lives, He responds by offering us grace, forgiveness, strength, purpose, and peace. If you want to grow in faithfulness that will persevere, even during tough times, get to know God and trust Him with something new.
For more on faithfulness, check out this article.
Self-Control
Everyone faces temptation, so everyone needs self-control. Maybe you have a quick temper or struggle with overeating. Maybe you’re a little prideful or like to gossip. Whatever temptation you face, you need self-control from the Holy Spirit to overcome it.
Asking the Holy Spirit to help you remember your purpose can be a big help when it comes to self-control. Jesus was fully God and fully man, so He knew what it felt like to need self-control. He experienced countless opportunities to quit or compromise His mission, but He didn’t. Why? Because He knew His purpose, and He knew that purpose was far more important than temporary pleasure. He could say “no” to anything that didn’t align with His mission, and we can live the same way.
For more on self-control, check out this article.
How Do I Grow the Fruit of the Spirit?
These are the Fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of hard work and effort.
At this point, you might be thinking, “Okay, I know what the fruits are, what they mean, and how I can grow in them … but growing in all nine feels like a lot.” Well, the good thing is that these are the Fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of hard work and effort.
We can and will grow in all of the Fruit of the Spirit as we grow closer to Jesus Christ— they grow in us because of Him! So, grow closer to God by spending time with Him, learning from Him, and creating more space in your life and heart for Him, and watch as your life begins to produce fruit.
For some practical ways to grow closer to Jesus, check out this article: