The Apostles were arrested, falsely accused, tried, beaten and when they were released, Acts 5:41 says, “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were stripped, beaten with rods had their feet fastened in stocks in the inner prison. Yet, verse 25 says, “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God, and the prisoners heard them.”

This is why James 1:2 says, My brethren, count it all joy [even] when you fall into various trials.

Why? Because God is at work in your life. Trials are temporary. The grace of God is eternal. I Peter 1:8 speaks of Him, whom having not seen you love. In whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

The joy of the believer is summed up in today’s verse found in Psalm 32:11. A joyful Christian is one who is spending time in the Word.

We need to understand that joy is something that God gives us. Galatians 5:22 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy…” So joy is a “fruit” born by the ministry of the Holy Spirit within us, it is the result of God’s work in our lives.

That is why unsaved people do not understand our joy. They do not have the Holy Spirit. So, do you have the Holy Spirit? If yes, you must have joy!