The past several years have made us all aware that life can be filled with the unexpected and unpleasant. From volatile political cycles to a global pandemic that affected our daily routines, we’ve grown accustomed to the idea that, as Jesus said, we will have trouble in this world. Amidst all the chaos and clamor, it’s easy to forget that there’s good news, too.

As part of a special series reflecting on stories from 2022, Christianity Today has rounded up a list of “10 News Stories That Made Us Happy.” From booming outreach in Thailand to Christians coming together on the set of a television show, these smile-inducing stories can help us remember that God is always shining a light in the darkness.

Take “Preach the Gospel Everywhere. When Necessary, Use Laundromats.” by Adam MacInnis, for example. The story documents church-run, free laundromats throughout the United States. “A growing number of churches see laundry ministries as a better way to connect with their neighbors and witness to the gospel,” MacInnis writes. He tells stories of friendships formed and lives changed through the simple task of doing laundry, and the small—yet huge—act of acknowledging another person’s inherent dignity by helping them afford clean clothes.

“I can’t tell you how many people have come up to us with tears in their eyes thanking us for having this program,” Susan Thomas, who runs a laundry ministry, told MacInnis. “They have to decide whether to put gas in their car or put food on the table or have laundry.”

Light in the darkness, indeed.