God has promised us that we can receive His joy in exchange for our sorrows. His joy transcends the natural circumstances in life that would cause us to be oppressed and is available to us at any time. All that we have to do is to come into His presence and release our pain and receive His joy. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Joy is more than a feeling of happiness. Being happy is usually a result of circumstances that are pleasing to us. But joy is a deep knowing, a hope, a sense pleasure found in Him. It is a fruit of the Spirit of God in our lives. As we are filled with His spirit, we have access to His attributes. John 15:11 says that fullness of joy comes to those who continue in the love of Christ and obey Him. Joy is part of the kingdom of God. As we become more and more aware of kingdom living, we can more easily walk in the fruit that has been made accessible to us.
More than a feeling, joy is a spiritual substance that wells up within our spirit man to give us spiritual strength. Many of us have heard Nehemiah 8:10 that says, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” God commands us, in spite of difficult circumstances, to be joyful. He commanded the people in Nehemiah’s day to celebrate, despite the challenges they were having. We must rise up and praise in the midst of trials. As we praise Him, He promises to inhabit our praises. When His presence comes, He brings every provision that we need. That supernatural strength that we need is available through His joy. As we praise, the shackles fall off, the oppression of the enemy is lifted, and we become saturated in His life-giving joy. New strength will arise in us in His presence.