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,
You are a child of God and He has a plan for your life and your happiness!
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