by cherijobookcorner | Jun 25, 2026 | Spiritual Insights
Have you found happiness yet?
It’s a simple question. Happiness can be surprisingly easy to find, yet when I look around me, I see many people still searching for it.
They look for happiness in their jobs and in the pursuit of fortune, fame, and influence. They look for it in their favorite foods, entertainment, music, and hobbies.
Can happiness be found in these places?
I think it can. But first, you have to find the root of happiness. Once you’ve found that, you begin to see happiness everywhere.
Today I’m feeling inspired to share how understanding God’s plan for me helped me find happiness—and how it continues to do so, even when the budget is tight, when I face health challenges or relationship difficulties, and when life feels overwhelming.
For me, it all comes back to understanding who I am—eternally.
A Child of God
Early in my life, I learned a little song called “I Am a Child of God.” If you’ve never heard it before, I hope you’ll take a moment to listen to it. Even if you know this song by heart, it’s worth hearing again.
The words “I am a child of God” are simple, yet they carry profound meaning.
Those words are not only found in a song—they are found in scripture.
In Romans 8:16–17 we read:
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…”
The Holy Ghost bears witness only of truth. If the Spirit testifies that we are children of God, we can trust that witness.
Where Did We Come From?
The song teaches that God sent us here to earth. If we were sent here, then it follows that we lived before we came.
Is there evidence of this in scripture? I believe there is.
The prophet Jeremiah recorded these words from the Lord:
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:4–5)
Jeremiah learned that God knew him before he was born.
Job also received a witness of our premortal existence. The Lord asked him:
“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?… When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4–7)
What would your answer be to that question?
The implication of what Job was told is powerful: the sons of God shouted for joy when the foundations of the earth were laid. As children of God, we were there with our Heavenly Father when the earth was prepared.
Abraham, yes, Father Abraham from the Old Testament, also recorded revelation he received from God.
He wrote:
“Thus I, Abraham, talked with the Lord, face to face, as one man talketh with another… and I could not see the end thereof.” (Abraham 3:11–12)
Later, Abraham recorded:
“Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was… and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.” (Abraham 3:22–23)
Like Jeremiah and Job, Abraham learned directly from God that we lived with Him before we came to earth. He also learned that some were chosen before they were born to fulfill specific responsibilities.
Why Are We Here?
If we shouted for joy when the earth was created, why were we so excited?
Could it be that the creation of the earth had something to do with us?
Absolutely.
Abraham taught that God prepared the earth as a place where His children could come, live, learn, and choose.
He recorded that God said:
“We will go down, for there is space there, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell…” (Abraham 3:24)
And then he continued :
“And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them…” (Abraham 3:25)
So one purpose of our lives on earth is to choose. Every day we choose how we spend our time, how we treat others, and whether we follow God. Through those choices, we show Him who we are becoming.
And when we choose to be faithful and obedient, great blessings await us.
What Blessings Await the Faithful?
Abraham also recorded this promise:
“And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon… and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.” (Abraham 3:26)
The first estate refers to our life with God before mortality. The second estate refers to our life here on earth.
What a promise—faithfulness leads to eternal increase and glory beyond what we can fully comprehend.
The Need for a Savior
Knowing we are children of God changes how we see ourselves. It reminds us that this life is not the end of our story.
But none of us make right choices all the time. So, what happens when we make mistakes?
Thankfully, God prepared a way for us to be forgiven. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to make forgiveness and return possible.
Jesus Christ lived a perfect life, yet He willingly suffered for the sins, pains, and sorrows of all mankind. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He took upon Himself the weight of every sin ever committed. Only the Son of God could endure such a burden.
Because of His Atonement, forgiveness is possible. When we sincerely repent, God forgives us through Jesus Christ.
Isaiah described it this way:
“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
The Lord also declared:
“Fear not: for I have redeemed thee…I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour… I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isaiah 43:1,11, 25)
Thankfully, when God forgives, He truly forgives.
Why Understanding God’s Plan Brings Happiness
This is why I am happy:
- I know who I am. I am a child of God.
- I know why I am here. I am here to choose whether I will be obedient and faithful to God.
- And I know that with the help of Jesus Christ, I can return to Him.
Understanding these things has changed everything for me. It is why one of my first thoughts each morning is: “Good morning, Heavenly Father!”
I know He loves me. I know He is aware of my life. I I know he has a plan for me. And I’m grateful to know He helps me navigate challenges so I can return to Him someday.
Because He has a plan for us life looks different. Instead of seeing it as a finite period of time where the aim is to pursue pleasure and notoriety, I see it as a time to show God who I really am. To the core. Every day. Even when no one is looking. I make choices based on priorities that will help me be the best I can be. I want to use my time wisely. I want to make good decisions. I want to help everyone discover what I have. Because knowing what I know brings happiness and hope every day of my life.
And when I face hard things, I see them differently too. I see them as opportunities to really grow. To be consistent in my devotion to God and to good. I take stock of why this or that might be happening and what God might be wanting me to learn as I go through the experience.
Bitterness leaves. Frustration lessens. And faith is fostered. Faith that as i
And that is a much better way to live, because when you do, you discover that no matter what, finding happiness is possible!
Your Sister in Christ,
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by cherijobookcorner | Jun 23, 2026 | About This Blog
Welcome to my blog, Epiphanies and More! My hope is that this blog will be a place where people seeking personal revelation and a closer relationship with God can find encouragement, spiritual insights, practical wisdom and inspiration for everyday life.
I’m so glad you are here and I’m looking forward to the time we will spend together sharing back and forth.
I know you’re now wondering about those words: Back and Forth. Isn’t a blog supposed to be one person sharing and the rest of the people just reading it?
Maybe.
But in this case, not so much.
Before we go there, I want to make sure that the name of this blog makes sense. Because if you understand the name, you’ll know what to expect – and to joyfully anticipate.
Why I named This Blog Epiphanies and More
Some years ago, when I first contemplated writing a blog, I was talking with my friend Anne Spry. I was telling her that I needed to come up with a name that would really share what the purpose of my blog was – from the very beginning.
I knew this blog was going to be spiritual in nature. There would be posts about all kinds of spiritual topics including developing greater faith, growing closer to God, living the life God created you to live, and everything in between. But I also knew that there were things I needed (and wanted) to share that were not obviously spiritual.
Now what do I mean by that?
I am one who believes that everything is spiritual in God’s eyes. But for us living out the day-to-day journey of our lives, sometimes we get bogged down. We forget that all things are spiritual. Sometimes we don’t even realize that they are.
Some of us are in the thick of raising small children or trying to get along with our teenagers. Some of us are just getting started in adulthood, going to college, preparing for marriage, or setting up our first home. And what about those of us with more than just a few gray hairs? Maybe we are experiencing health challenges or trying to decide what to do with ourselves now that we’re approaching retirement – or are already there.
God cares about where we are in life, and the joys and challenges we are facing. He really does! And He wants us to counsel with Him through prayer about them. Especially when we feel stalled or confused or just downright overwhelmed.
I think life presents us with difficulties, sometimes seemingly at every turn, because our Heavenly Father wants us to turn to Him. He wants us to communicate, even if it is to share our frustrations. Or maybe especially when we’re feeling frustrated.
Why? Because when we ask for His help and guidance, and then we listen, He responds. He reaches back with spiritual insights, counsel, inspiration, comfort, and more.
I have found in my life that the more I turn to Him for help during challenging times, the more often I hear from Him. Those messages come in a variety of ways, but they always have the signature stamp of His divinity. In other words, it’s clear to me that certain messages are from Him.
So now, back to why I named this blog Epiphanies and More.
As I laid out my idea for this blog to Anne, she suggested the name “Epiphanies.” At the time the word “Epiphany” wasn’t even in my vocabulary. So, I asked her to tell me more. She explained to me that Epiphany was a holiday connected with Christmas. On Epiphany, January 6th, many people celebrate the arrival of the wise men. So, it’s tied to the wisdom of seeking Christ. (Note the star of Bethlehem in the Epiphanies and More logo which is there for that reason.)
Anne then said that the word “Epiphany” also means a moment when God speaks to you. It is when He reveals something to you whether it is in answer to a prayer or a message that comes unexpectedly.
“So, an epiphany is a personal revelation—a message or insight from God?” I asked.
“Yes!” she said, excited that I had understood.
I loved that the word “Epiphany” was a synonym for personal revelation. We were on the right track to naming my blog. And “Epiphanies” (plural) was even better because there were lots of spiritual things I wanted to write about.
Now for the “and More” part. It’s probably already clear to you, but “and More” means simply that. There is more that will be covered in this blog. But it won’t be everything including the kitchen sink.
Epiphanies and More is dedicated to sharing spiritual impressions and understandings that have come to me – and still come to me – from time to time. And it is also devoted to sharing Aha! moments and insights that come in the day-to-day journey of my life.
For example, one of my future blog posts will be about the Aha! I had related to the need to set boundaries in my life. There I will share how I have learned over time to do that. That Aha! moment was powerful and empowering. A little scary at first. but as I applied it repeatedly, a certain peace began to peek through the frantic busyness of my life.
Another future blogpost will be about the Aha! I had about the many ways I could take good care of my body. It’s more than eating healthy food, exercising, drinking enough water, and getting enough sleep. And I think you may be a bit surprised about what will be in that post.
So, when you think of Epiphanies and More think about revelatory spiritual insights and experiences but also think about practical Ahas! Both have the potential to make life easier and more enjoyable to navigate.
How We Can Connect and Share Spiritual Insights
I mentioned earlier that Epiphanies and More is meant to be a way for us to share back and forth. Let me explain what I mean by that.
In some blogposts the “comments” are turned on. This allows readers to comment and start side conversations about a particular blog post. I have thought long and hard about whether to turn comments on, and as I was pondering this, a better option came to light.
What I want for you is to be able to come and read the blog posts and then just sit with them for a bit. I would encourage you to ask the Lord what He would want you to take away from them (if anything). I hope these posts will open the way for you to seek and receive personal revelation. What I don’t want is for you to be sidetracked or redirected away from a moment with Him by the comment of someone else.
So how do we have a back and forth about these blog posts without comments taking over? It’s quite simple. There are two options.
The first is that I will include a clickable link to the Epiphanies and More (private community) Facebook page in each post. Please go there and apply to be admitted to the group. Then, share in a new post whatever you wish.
In your Facebook post please reference then name of the blog post you are writing about so others can find it. You can share personal experiences that are similar if you are inspired to do so, or comment about the blog post. You may also ask questions about the post.
I will be checking the Facebook page frequently and will do my best to respond to questions posed there as quickly as I can. Also others in the group will be able to comment and share their insights as well in response to your post. Please also read and respond to the Facebook posts of others. This is what will help you connect with others in the group.
The second way we can have some back and forth is for you to send me a personal email. This option would be best for highly personal matters or sacred things you feel to share that you’re not comfortable putting on social media. I will put the email address where you can email me at the end of each blog post.
In the subject line of your email, please use the phrase “Blog Question:” and put the name of the blog post you are emailing about. So, for example, “Blog Question: Finding Happiness in God’s Plan for Me.” Again, I will do my best to acknowledge or respond to each email as quickly as I can.
Building Meaningful Spiritual Connections
By having back and forth, either through the Epiphanies and More (private community) Facebook page or through email, we will have the opportunity to connect with each other and with others in very personal and spiritual ways. To me spiritual connections are kindred connections. Connections between friends who really “get” each other and who support and encourage each other. Growing closer to God and developing kindred connections are what I want for all of us.
President Russell M. Nelson said, “. . . in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” (See the full talk here.)
I would like to add that as we come together and share back and forth how we receive personal revelation, spiritual insights, direction, and comfort, we will be better prepared to recognize divine communication (or epiphanies), when they come to us. In addition, perhaps some of the very guidance we need may come through what someone else shares in the Facebook group.
Listening for Personal Revelation
Epiphanies are private moments of personal revelation. This is why the image for Epiphanies and More depicts a young woman receiving personal revelation in a forest of trees—alone.
Because of the private nature of revelation, it is always important to follow the guidance of the Spirit as to whether to share what we have received and if so, with whom, and in what way.
There will be things that I will never be able to share in my blog or my books because they were meant for me alone. There may be things that I will only be able to share one-on-one as the Spirit directs. Still other things are meant to be shared far and wide. The same will hold true for you. And that’s okay
Several of the experiences I have had that the Lord wants me to share are found in Loaves and Fishes: Seeing the Miracles. I was quite surprised to learn that the Lord wanted that set of stories to be made available in a variety of formats, including a free download of it. But in following His direction, many people are now being blessed with miracles of their own. Perhaps you will be one of them!
Taking my experience with sharing Loaves and Fishes as an example, I would encourage you to listen to and follow the guidance of the Spirit when you post anything to the Facebook page. Do the same when you reach out through a private email. Only share those things that you feel inspired to share, in the way that you are inspired to share them. And if the spirit prompts you to put something on the Facebook page, there is probably someone there who needs to read it!
Let’s honor the epiphanies and more that God gives to each of us so He will be willing to give us even more in the future!
Your Sister in Christ,
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