Finding Happiness in Christ (Series 1)Sample

The radiant face that reveals the secret

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart, the spirit is broken. (Proverbs 15:13)

This is the story of the beginning of the Anaconda mining company.

A group of people hoping to find gold traveled from Bannock, Montana. They had to go through hardships: some of their friends died on the way, and the Indians defeated them and took their good horses. Disheartened, they found their way back to Bannock.

As they were walking home, one of them picked up a small rock from the river. As he broke that rock with his ax, he said, "There might be gold here." They found gold in the same river and realized they could get 50 dollars – which was quite a large sum at the time. They said, "We are going to be rich!"

When they returned to Bannock, they promised not to say anything about the gold, and they kept that promise. They quietly equipped themselves with the supplies needed for the next journey. But when they were ready to travel, 300 people followed them. Who had told these people? There was none! The author of the incident said of this, “Their radiant faces have revealed their secret.”

Reflection: No matter how smart we are to keep a secret about happiness, we can't hide it; because our happy mood will make us appear brighter and different in front of the crowd. This new atmosphere will make everyone wonder and become curious. If we realize how precious we are to God, surely our hearts will be happy, and it will appear on our faces. And when the crowd is curious and wants to know our reasons, that's our chance to testify about God's goodness.

Joy is living in abundance, the overflow of which cannot be limited to one person only.

(Eugene Peterson)