In a smelly, damp cave eons ago, someone concocted the thought
that God is against laughter, and wants His kids to take everything seriously.
That person is dead now, so we can toss out his or her notion of God as a disagreeable
deity. Here’s the proof that laughter is the novel invention of God Himself:
1. “Abraham was a hundred
years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, ‘God has brought me
laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’” (Genesis
21:5-6, NIV).
So… God must think it funny to give a baby to a 100-year-old
man and his 90-year-old bride. Because this meant the end of Sarah’s shame and
the fulfillment of God’s promise to the couple, she laughed right along with
the Almighty.
2. “The One enthroned in
heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.” (Psalm 2:4, NIV).
This is the Lord’s response to heathen leaders who boast of freeing
themselves from the kingship of God. The
Message says, “Heaven-throned God breaks
out laughing… amused at their presumption.”
3. “For everything its
season, and for every activity under heaven its time: ... a time to weep and a
time to laugh; a time for mourning and a time for dancing.” (Ecclesiastes
3:1, 4, NEB).
Oh, the splendid balance in the heart of God! His calendar
allows for laughter as well as tears, dancing as well as mourning. Now, if I
could just convince my husband that square dancing is a divine inspiration…
4. “And now, God, do it
again—bring rains to our drought-stricken lives so those who planted their
crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, so those who went off with
heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.” (Psalm
126:4-6, The Message).
Do you feel that you life is drought-stricken, that you’ve
planted crops of faith, hope, and love in despair? You are not alone. The Psalmist of three
thousand years ago felt the same. Yet he dared to ask God to exchange despair
for hurrahs, and heavy hearts with laughter. Let’s agree with him today, boldly
marching to the throne of grace to ask the Inventor of Laughter to give us a
huge dose.
