I was created in the image of God. This is true not only in the sense that my body was crated after the image of my creator’s—it is also true because I was created to have the same character as God. My God is cheerful, lively, and good natured. How do I know this? I know this because when I have his spirit, I too am cheerful, lively, and good-natured.
As I have come to invite the spirit of the Lord in my life, I have noticed that I have become genuinely happy. That is not to say that I have not ceased to have trials, sorrow, or grief—because I have continued to have all of them—but my spirit has been buoyed up, I have been able to find reasons to laugh, and I have found peace. This lightened load has increased my capacity to endure trials, and remain optimistic.
Being optimistic does not mean that you have to have a perm-a-grin on your face all of the time. God himself feels sorrow, and I was created in his image: I was made to feel. It brings me great comfort to know there is nothing wrong with me if I have a sad day, a sad week, or even a sad month as long as I’m remaining optimistic; I can have a sad day as long as I’m having a good life. Despite all of life’s difficulties, there is nothing temporal that can cancel out the joys that eternity has to offer: the joys that the gospel has to offer.
The gospel has brought such great joy into my life, joy and happiness beyond description. I don’t have all the logical answers, but I have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I have a knowledge of my Heavenly Father. I know that I am a Daughter of God. And I am happy. And that’s enough.
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