Recently, many people who are in my close circle of friends have been going through a difficult season. These friends have had to deal with various issues, including health problems, financial challenges, personal struggles, and a number of other trials. There are those who constantly face the possibility of being persecuted for their faith in Christ. With all these obstacles, it seems joy eludes them, and their energy slowly diminishes since the joy of the Lord is truly our strength. (See Nehemiah 8:10). The lack of a joyful heart leaves a broken spirit wondering if God will ever do anything even though He is working all things for good.
A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22
Frequently we lose our joy because of the troubles we are experiencing, and we succumb to depression as our view on life becomes distorted by dark clouds. But we must never forget that the sun is there, no matter how cloudy it gets. The Son is always with us. We need to remember what God says.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. Isaiah 43:2
This is not an “if” it is a “when.” We will pass through rough waters and fires, but God will always be with us. During these times it is important that we pray for each other. Paul urged the Ephesians to pray for the saints.
With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18
Without a doubt, we should be praying for all of the Lord’s people. But what about laughing with all the saints? Yes, that’s right. I said laughing. Frequently, we get very serious, and we start praying fervently, but I believe that there are times when God wants us to laugh heartily. A good laugh in troubles, just like praises, sends the enemy into confusion. Afterall, he wants us wading through tears of self-pity, and not frolicking in tears of joy. There is a time to laugh. But could the time for laughter be in our wilderness season, when everything seems dried up? Why not? God makes the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy as He has waters gushing in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. (See Isaiah 35:6).
Sarah laughed in disbelief when God said she would have a child in her old age. It seemed impossible. It was laughable. How could someone so old with a dried-up womb have a child of her own for a man who was even older than her? But it happened. Sarah’s laughter of disbelief became a laughter of joy because God did the impossible.
Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” Genesis 21:5-7
So, why shouldn’t we laugh now? Let’s lighten or burden, knowing that we serve a God who specializes in the impossible and laugh together. We may not see the promise now, but He is not a man that He should lie. Let us laugh not in disbelief as Sarah did, but instead laugh with confidence as we understand that our Father is a big God and there is nothing too hard for Him, and through His Son, Christ Jesus, we are more than conquerors.
Just recently, our burdens seemed to lift in one of my prayer groups after a series of mispronounced words that created several amusing misunderstandings among its multi-national members, most of whom do not have English as their first language. One friend asked to pray for his “etching” problem, he actually had an “itching” problem. Now for those of you who are reading this article in another language other than English, “itching” and “etching” looks and sounds similar, so it is easily mistaken. However, it was quite funny because he definitely did not have a problem drawing but it sure did create a problem in praying because we were not quite sure what ailment we should be petitioning God for. Thankfully, God understood, and our friend was healed, plus the group had a good time laughing which eased our burdensome, stressful week. Laughter was the best medicine.
Job 5:22 says we will laugh at violence and famine, and we will not be afraid of wild beasts. Laughter energies us and helps us to face life with joy. So, as we pray for the saints, let us find opportunities to laugh with them also. Let us laugh in the face of danger and trials, knowing we have already triumphed through Jesus.
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