The surprise is not that, unexpectedly, things turn out better than expected. No, the real surprise is that God’s light is more real than all the darkness, that God’s truth is more powerful than all human lies, that God’s love is stronger than death" (Henri Nouwen). 

The foundation of our joy is God and our relationship with him. Human joy can come and go. The joy from the Lord is internal and is rooted in what God has and is doing in our lives. This joy remains. At the same time, this true, inner joy cannot be hidden. It manifests itself in the person as a witness to the goodness of God. "The joy of the Lord is my strength."  Many times, others cannot understand this joy because it is rooted in a mystery--the invisible but real relationship with God.