Is joy merely a by-product of our circumstances? If everything is going great, it's easy to be joyful, but what happens when things go wrong? We read in James 1:2 that we should consider it pure joy whenever we face trials. How could this be possible? There is a joy that comes from persevering through hard times, which can carry us through when we feel like giving up. Jesus endured the cross for the sake of joy, the joy of creating a pathway for us to receive salvation. So we're reminded that in the passion, pain, and intense moments of "I want to give up", a joy comes through when we persevere.