There is no worse witness than a Christian who has no joy! Unfortunately, emotions can keep us out of the will of God. When this happens we need to pray and quote Scripture. Sometimes we are miserable Christians because we live with a foot in both worlds - heaven and earth.
We call on Jesus as our emergency contact but we rely on the world for security, satisfaction and fulfillment. 1 Peter 1:8, "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." His Word changes us!
It is easy for our flesh to not put God first and keep us away from His Word. This world gives us many distractions that become our priorities, especially in our time and finances. If we are not in God's Word, we find ourselves having a pity party because life is too hard on our own!
John 15:9–11, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Jesus says we have joy when we abide in Him.
John 14: 21, "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." What a promise! When we see God working in our life we have to have joy - even in the hard times! God is gracious and His commandments are a gift. When we lose sight of this, we lose the joy!
"The more the soul looks upon Christ, the more it loves; and still, the more it loves, the more it delights to look upon Him."