It needs to change your life. Nobody will make it long as a Christian without joy. Without joy church becomes another thing to do in busy week. Without joy, prayer becomes a ritual which produces very little in the way of change. Do not underestimate the power of joy in your life.
Salvation brings joy, it comes with the package.
But somewhere someone has convinced the church that the joy of the Lord wears off and we settle down into the routine of religion. There are too many people who come mad and leave sad. There are too many people who sit through the Wonder of Worship and miss the joy of being in the presence of God. I don't think I would be stretching the point to say that joy is to the Christian what talent is to a musician. Joy is the aspect of the Christian walk which puts the song in our heart and keeps us singing even when we are passing through the valleys of life.