After writing Heaven, I heard many stories about the losses of loved ones. People were asking, \u201cHow can I be happy\u201d\u009d\u201d\u201dthey probably wouldn\u2019t use that word because it sounds so unspiritual\u201d\u201d\u201cwhen my seven-year-old has just died of leukemia?\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
I began to think more and more of Paul\u2019s letter to the Corinthians, when he describes himself as \u201csorrowful, yet always rejoicing\u201d\u009d (2 Cor. 6:10). He doesn\u2019t say \u201crejoicing, yet always sorrowful.\u201d\u009d It\u2019s rejoicing that\u2019s the constant, even as this leaves plenty of room for sorrow and struggle.<\/p>\n
Something would be terribly wrong if we weren\u2019t grieving for this world and those who suffer. But is it okay to be happy when we live in a world of hurt? And beyond that, is it actually God\u2019s calling? Because if God commands us to rejoice, he must empower us to rejoice. He must want us to be happy. That\u2019s what got me interested in God\u2019s happiness. Is God happy? Can he be happy when he sees so much sin in the world, when he knows what his Son endured on his behalf, when he sees the persecution of his people? Can we?<\/p>\n
Clearly, the answer is yes.<\/p>\n