Laugh a lot?
When was the last time you had a great belly laugh that left tears in your eyes and a slight pain in your stomach?
I’ve been reading a book called What Makes Life Worth Living by Phillip Keller (author of A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23) and he said this about laughter:
“Genuine, hearty laughter is one of the greatest gifts imparted to us by our Father. It has the amazing power to diminish our pain, lift our souls in joyous good cheer, while providing bright hope for the unknown days ahead.”
What a powerful reminder for the days in which we live.
He goes on to say, “Learning to laugh in trouble, at trouble, and over trouble is one of the supreme secrets to serenity amid stress.”
Proverbs 17:22 declares, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
So how do we laugh amidst our trials and hardships?
I love how Keller says it: “the secret fountain of upwelling joy is found in the inner, indwelling Person of the living Christ.” As he also writes, “Inherent in the very act of laughter there lies a profound declaration that our confidence is in Christ our beloved Friend.”
Our joy is not found in the circumstance but in the Savior. He is the fullness of our joy as Psalm 16:11 declares—”You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”
So how is your laughter?
Know I am praying for you and cheering you down the Narrow Way of the Cross,
–Nathan