Joy is not the same as minimizing pain. It is much richer than that. As will be discussed in much more detail in other parts of this book, suffering is absolutely required on the way to obtaining more joy.
One aspect of seeking joy that generates suffering is the acquisition of more knowledge. When you obtain more knowledge, that knowledge will always include a greater comprehension of the things in this world that cause suffering. This is what Solomon meant when he wrote: “For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” (Ecclesiastes 1:18)
Knowledge tends to generate sorrow because every new piece of information causes one of several responses within you. In the least likely case, it will give you confidence by reaffirming what you already thought you knew. It is more likely that it will suggest that some aspect of you or your life is not as you thought it was. This can take the form, for example, of showing you that something or someone has less value than you thought, and should be removed from your life. It can also show you that something or someone has more value than you thought and should be added to your life. Both of these revelations cause sorrow because, in the first case, you will tend to interpret the experience as loss, and in the second case you will be challenged to change. Trust in God, in both cases, is the key to choosing to interpret both of these experiences as positive. In reality, both are steps along the path to greater joy.
Another example of the suffering caused by knowledge is how you feel when you better understand the goodness and beauty available in something you have not yet obtained.
At times, you may question whether the positive aspects of life are worth its negative aspects. Remember that God has promised that they are, and he has explained that there are many positive aspects that he has not yet revealed to you:
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
This should cause you to ponder what reasons he might have for withholding knowledge of these things from you. Even if the timing is not right for you to receive them, couldn’t he at least tell you about them so you know what is coming later?
It turns out that God can only reveal to you the good things currently outside of your comprehension as far as you trust him, because inasmuch as your trust in him is limited, his revealing them to you would cause sorrow beyond what you can bear, because you would understand what is available as well as how much better it would be for you to experience it, and it would cause you pain to not have it yet.
In all cases, sorrow that comes through knowledge is a positive thing, because it is a necessary precondition to obtaining what is required to have greater joy.