Joy

"The point is our joy. That is when God is most pleased. They aren't two different things: God's joy over here and our joy over there. They are the same. God takes great pleasure in us living as we were made to live. He commands it in the Psalms: "Take delight in the Lord." (Psa 37v4). It's such an odd command, isn't it?
You will be happy or else...But God is serious about this. Now this joy doesn't rule out suffering, difficulty, and struggle. In fact, taking Jesus seriously almost guarantees that our lives will be difficult. History proves it. And very few actually set out to live such a focused, beautiful life. Narrow is the way, and only a few find it. (Matt 7v13-14). But the kind of joy God speaks of transcends these struggles and difficulties. I love how one writer put it: "The peace of God, which transcends all understanding." (Phil 4v7)"

From "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell - Zondervan 2005