Laughter is good for the soul.
It’s also good for our lungs, our hearts, and our general well-being. In fact, doctors at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic say, “When you start to laugh, it doesn’t just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body.”
That’s just the short-term effect. In the long term, laughter can up our immune system, relieve pain, and even alleviate depression.
There is one thing the Mayo Clinic staff cautions very clearly: Know what isn’t funny. Some forms of humor aren’t appropriate, and they bring more harm than good.
Genesis 18:12 tells us:
“So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?’ ”
Who was Sarah really laughing at? She found amusement in the words of the Almighty God. One chapter earlier, God had spoken to Abraham, telling him in Genesis 17:19:
“Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.”
When Sarah laughed, she stepped over the Mayo Clinic’s line. She stepped into the inappropriate, and God noticed. In Genesis 18:13-14, he says to Abraham:
“Why did Sarah laugh…? Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
God brought up a good question. Why do we laugh at God’s promises? Why do we say, It would be wonderful if God could fix this, solve that, and bring a resolution to the underlying problems of our lives. Yet, we put backup plans in place, steel ourselves for the long haul, and generally act as if God’s promises are null and void.
In our actions we laugh at God, and God hears us. He asks, “Why do you laugh? Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
He wants our laughter to be that which is good for our soul. Let’s practice the following five forms of laughter, and we will be so much better for it.
Job 8:21 tells us:
“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.”
Proverbs 17:22 warns:
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Psalm 126:2 gives us a reason to shout:
“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ ”
Ecclesiastes 3:4 and Luke 6:21 assure us we will know laughter again:
“[There is] a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”
James 5:13 reinforces the Mayo Clinic’s findings:
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.”
Even Sarah finally got God’s message: Laughter is good for the soul. We read her joyful conclusion in Genesis 21:6:
“And Sarah said, ‘God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.’ ”
Sarah wanted us to laugh with her over the mighty thing that God had done. God wants us to laugh with him over the mighty things he wants to do for us.
As the Mayo Clinic says, laughter is “good for you over the long haul.” As God says, “A joyful heart is good medicine.”
When we laugh with God, he opens his hand of blessing unto his children.
Copyright © 2015 MyChurchNotes.net
Code: FGO.K.03.14.vp