Once again - today's devotional spoke to me and I hope it brings joy to you as well ;-)
Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” — Genesis 21:3, Genesis 21:6
Think about laughter you’ve heard in the past few days. Maybe unbridled laughter of joy, or a bitter laughter of heartache. Maybe warm laughter with a dear friend, a mocking laugh, or the you-either-laugh-or-cry kind of laugh.
Laughter can communicate a lot.
Abraham laughed at the thought of his having a child after a century on this planet (Genesis 17:17). Sarah also laughed; her childbearing years were ancient history (Genesis 18:12)!
Of course God wouldn’t appreciate their laughter of disbelief, but He undoubtedly joined in the laughter of rejoicing, of delight, and of awe as Abraham and Sarah celebrated the birth of their long-awaited son. Their joy at this precious baby, their gratitude for God’s faithfulness, and their amazement at his timing all bubbled over in laughter that couldn’t and shouldn’t have been contained.
Their mouths were filled with laughter because the Lord had done great things for them. And did you know that Isaac means “laughter; he laughs”?
Thank God for those occasions when His blessings have caused your joy to overflow in laughter!
Laughing is an amazing gift from God. It helps you cope with sadness and everyday life. Have you ever felt mad and then someone said something to make you laugh? Even though you were upset the laughter made your heart feel better.
It’s always great to have a cheerful heart and laugh with family and friends. There’s a time to laugh and there’s a time not to. For example, bad jokes that have no business in your Christian life, making fun of others, and when someone is going through pain.
What does the Bible say?
1. Luke 6:21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
2. Psalm 126:2-3 Then our mouths were filled with laughterand our tongues with joyful songs. Then the nations said, “The LORD has done spectacular things for them.” The LORD has done spectacular things for us. We are overjoyed.
3. Job 8:21 He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
4. Ecclesiastes 3:2-4 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A godly woman
5. Proverbs 31:25-26 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.
A joyful heart is always good
6. Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
7. Proverbs 15:13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but with a heartache comes depression.
8. Proverbs 15:15 For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
God laughs at the wicked.
15. Psalm 37:12-13 The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.
16. Psalm 2:3-4 “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.
17. Proverbs 1:25-28 You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you–when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you. “When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.
18. Psalm 59:7-8 Listen to the filth that comes from their mouths; their words cut like swords. “After all, who can hear us?” they sneer. But LORD, you laugh at them. You scoff at all the hostile nations.
Examples
19. Genesis 21:6-7 And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”
20. Genesis 18:12-15 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
21. Jeremiah 33:11 the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD, saying, “Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever.” For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the LORD.