Joy is a feeling of exuberant happiness experienced at a particular time. It is referenced frequently in the Old and New Testaments, most notably in Luke 2:10-11:
- "When an angel appeared to shepherds in the Galilean countryside to announce the birth of a Savior, he said, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
Joy is considered by many Christians to be one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and a foretaste of heaven itself.
The confident expectation of Christian hope in the "sure and certain" knowledge of resurrection to eternal life in God, through the purchase of salvation by the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ, is the cause of sustained joy in the midst of the temporary trials and griefs and disappointments of life (see Philippians 3:8-16; James 1:12; Hebrews chapters 12–13). Christian hope is rooted firmly in the joy of the assured and confident expectation of good guaranteed by the unbreakable promises of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.