Can you have joy in trials and tribulations even if you are not happy?
Yes. Joy comes from within through the Holy Spirit and what God has done, independent of circumstances, while happiness depends on favorable circumstances. Therefore a believer can have joy unspeakable in trials and tribulations even when not happy, because eternal life and God's promises remain.
Les explains that joy is that which comes from within as a result of the Holy Spirit indwelling us and as a result of what God has done on our behalf. He contrasts joy with happiness, which is the result of our circumstances—health, paid bills, money in the bank, a decent car, a nice home, and similar things. Those are only circumstantial and have nothing to do with the inner life. So whether you have money in the bank or whether you are in trials and tribulations, you can still have joy, but you won't be happy. The believer has joy unspeakable because regardless of what may happen in this life, we have life eternal and the promises of all things God has prepared for us.
More Questions
Can you have joy while going through trials and tribulations?
Whether you have money in the bank or are in trials and tribulations, you can still have joy, but you won't be happy.