Growing as an Enneagram Seven: The EnthusiastExemplo

Your Joy Reflects God

As an Enthusiast, joy is your trademark. It’s natural for you to see the good in almost any situation; you encourage others, and you don’t let much get you down.

But what is the difference between true joy and happiness? 

“Happiness is completely connected to what’s happening to us on the external circumstances of our lives,” says Kay Warren, the wife of Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church. “Joy is unrelated to what’s happening to us on the outside.”

We most clearly see joy when all reasons for happiness are stripped away. This type of joy makes no sense, so we must attribute it to God’s goodness and faithfulness.

Joy is a sure feeling deep in your gut that everything is going to be okay and time should not be wasted. Joy is a state of praise toward our Father in heaven, who is in ultimate control. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, which means God can grow us in joy and He will as He is sanctifying us day by day.

God made us in His image. He didn’t have to, but He gave us each unique parts of Himself. Unlike human parents, who don’t get to choose their children’s genetics, God did decide exactly what He would give us. There is something so special and awe-inspiring about that.

Dear Seven, when you’re filled with joy, you reflect part of God to those around. When you hope, you represent our God of hope. When you are long-suffering, you are showing the world the long-suffering of our Father in heaven. There are so many ways God chose to show the world Himself through you!

I find that it’s easy to focus on the ways we don’t reflect God. Our sin is often so loud and shameful, it demands center stage in the thoughts we have about ourselves. 

However, have you ever thought about how dwelling on how you reflect God brings glory to Him?

Like a good father beaming at his child, whose love of adventure mirrors his own, God is proud and delighted in the ways we are similar. Thinking about these things, and thanking Him for them, help us to have the right attitude toward ourselves as humans. We are humble, small, fickle, and sinful. And yet we are also adopted, created, and loved beyond measure.