Does joy come from what God has done for us?
Yes. Joy comes from within as a result of the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer and because of what God has done on our behalf. It is not dependent on circumstances like happiness is. Believers can have joy unspeakable because they have eternal life and the promises of what God has prepared for them.
Les explains that joy is that which comes from within as a result of the Holy Spirit indwelling us, as a result of what God has done on our behalf. It is joy unspeakable because regardless of what may happen in this life, we have life eternal and the promises of all the things God has prepared for us. That precipitates real joy. Happiness, by contrast, is the result of circumstances: being healthy, having bills paid, money in the bank, a decent car, and a nice home. Those are merely circumstantial and have nothing to do with the inner life. So whether you have money in the bank or are in trial and tribulations, you can still have joy, though you will not be happy.