Chara is the New Testament word for joy — and strikingly, it appears again and again in the least joyful circumstances. Paul writes of joy from prison; James tells us to count it all joy when we fall into trials. This is because chara is not the same as happiness, which depends on what is happening. Joy is deeper: a gladness rooted in God that can coexist with sorrow.
Chara is a fruit of the Spirit, which means it is grown in us, not manufactured by us. Its source is not good fortune but the presence and promises of God — the joy of the Lord that is our strength. Jesus spoke of his own joy remaining in his followers and being made full. Chara is the settled gladness of those who know whose they are and where they are going.
Chara in Scripture
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.