“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven…A time to cry and a time to laugh.”-Ecclesiastes 3:1,4
I have found that it is very valuable from time to time to pause and remember how God has invented so many truly amazing things. Think about it! He created the sun. He engineered the stars. He made the ocean. God designed the Red Panda! He constructed the human body with all its intricacies. The Lord invented colors and sounds. And let’s not forget this one…it’s a wonderful one…God crafted laughter! How pleasant and fascinating that He did that!
Since God developed laughter, we know there is a time to laugh. It’s important that we don’t forget this, squash this, or neglect it. I’m afraid that too often we do forget to laugh. Laughter is such a gift from God! Have you ever heard an infant laugh? I remember the moment each of my four kids laughed for the first time. What a treasure! I totally agree with Chuck Swindoll when he said, “Laughter is the most beautiful and beneficial therapy God ever granted humanity.” Indeed, laughter is so healthy for our souls, and it is one of the evidences of joy in our hearts. Proverbs 17:22 states, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” When the joy of God resides in our hearts, it permeates throughout our souls and even positively affects our countenance! Proverbs 15:13 states it like this: “A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.”
Is it always the right time to laugh? Of course not. There is a time for every activity under heaven. There is a time for seriousness, mourning, sadness, silent reflection, etc. But far too often, we have a broken spirit that is overwhelmed with anything but the joy of the Lord. Too frequently, a broken heart weighs down our lives, sapping our energy and crushing our soul. Heaviness and hard-stuff is common. Trials and troubles will be many. Jesus made this clear (John 16:33). But let’s not forget the great significance of laughter, which is a total gift from God to help us along the difficult journey. For there is a time to laugh! Oh how we need that laughter sprinkled in our lives abundantly! And we are to ever choose joy! The Bible makes this very evident. Remember 1 Thessalonians 5:16: “Always be joyful.”
We find true joy in the Lord! Psalm 34:8 tells us, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!” As we look to God in His Word and through prayer, one of the many good gifts He brings us is joy. That joy should often lead to laughter. So laugh! May we lighten up and laugh at ourselves when we do something goofy. Might we increasingly learn to laugh with others (obviously not in making fun of others or about something sinful), for we are called to “Be happy with those who are happy…” (Romans 12:15). Praise God that He created and granted us the gift of laughter. May we not let this gift sit unopened.
Lord, please fill our lives with Your joy and laughter! We know it's beneficial for us and for others. In Christ’s name, amen.
Cheer up, friends!
-Scott