The Christian`s Secret of A Happy Life

An Essay on Hannah Whitall Smith 's The Christian 's Secret to a Happy Life

Hannah Whitall Smith , in her book , The Christian 's Secret to a Happy Life , advocates the idea that the Christian life need not be dreary and unhappy

She herself acknowledges the fact that most people see that Christians live their life with burden and misery . She addresses fellow Christians "you have not lived as you feel children of God ought to live . You have had perhaps a clear understanding of doctrinal truths , but you have not come

into possession of their life and power (Smith 4 . She believes that the Christian life is not meant to be a bleak experience and proceeds to share the secret ' of being happy

For Smith , the secret lies with one 's complete surrender to Christ and overcoming difficulties that a Christian normally wrestles with - matters such as faith , temptation , failure , and doubt . She believes that happiness is only possible with the absolute submission to faith and obedience . She says for instance , surrender thy whole being to Him to be possessed by Him , and finally believe that He has taken possession and is dwelling in thee (30 . She claims that only by steadfastly holding up this conviction that one would be successful

Smith manages to curb potential criticisms by asserting from the very start that hers is not a theological book ' and that she does not have a formal knowledge of theology . All throughout the book , she maintains that what she is writing is not a treatise to the conventional doctrine but a revelation of her own experiences so that others may learn to adopt her vision and therefore live a full and happy life

This book is considered a Christian classic not only because it was first published more than a century ago , but also because it presents many ideas that may be considered quite forward and unorthodox at the time , especially if it was espoused by a woman

The book is by and large , intended for a Christian audience . It is generally a narrative of her life experiences with a decidedly personal approach . Her anecdotal stories give color and support to her assertions . The author is charismatic and her optimistic voice is inspiring

The language is casual and straightforward . She presents a unique perspective in the sense that she furthers the view that spirituality starts in changing one 's state of mind rather than being a Christian by mere actions . And by this , Smith has demonstrated that a full and happy Christian life is indeed possible

Work Cited

Smith , Hannah W . The Christian 's Secret of a Happy Life . New York Ballantine , 1986 ed

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