“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalms 16:11

Laughing with Jesus

My cousin posted a picture recently on Facebook of us as children having so much fun, and laughing. I thought of how much fun we had together just laughing, sometimes for no reason at all. I loved to laugh with her! Even in the sad times our family experienced, we would retreat and find something to laugh about. It was a release.

As I’ve gotten older through the years of seriousness and life stuff, has laughter disappeared? We get caught up in tragedies around us and our own sad events or chronic happenings. Not to downplay sad things, but a good, healthy laugh can certainly lighten our load.

Sometimes my heart is tickled and I just want to burst out laughing because of His joy inside and the blessing of His presence. I know He is laughing with me. I know He has a sense of humor, especially when I do dumb things.

In a word search in the Bible, the first book to have the word joy is Job—one of the saddest books in the Bible. “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). Psalms 5:11 says, “Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You!”

One more: Psalms 126:2-3: “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them, the LORD has done great things for us and we are glad.’”

God’s point of view must cause Him to smile. He sees the whole picture and knows the outcome. When we look for His smile, He will show us. Sometimes His smile is His assurance that things are in control and working all for our good and His glory.

So, let’s take a walk in the rain and splash in the puddles with the children. Let’s not take ourselves so seriously that we don’t listen for the joy. Even in our tragedies of loss, look for the memories of joy and laughter—they can carry us through. It’s a gift from our God and releases the joy of the Holy Spirit.

I’m looking forward to heaven because I know, in our worship to our Almighty God, Creator and King, we will be bursting with joy and laughter. Let’s practice now! (I’m going to find my cousin and have coffee.)

“Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of laughter and the joy You bring us in simple things. I pray You put a smile on hearts today and we can enjoy Your assurance and favor. I also pray for my sisters to experience a good laugh.”