A Time To #11

We looked last time at weeping and how, even though it is a difficult time, God can bring us through it to see greater things.  Today, we look at that greater time as we examine the time of laughter in our lives.

Laughter is an important part of human existence.  No matter how bad our day is going, a good laugh can lift our spirits and help us to soldier on to the next task.  Laughter relieves stress and helps us to put things in perspective.  If we can find something worth laughing about, then our situation can't be that dire.  Laughter lets us know that our world isn't completely doomed.  It's often called the best medicine.

Laughter isn't just a modern treatment for problems and trials.  Sarah exclaimed with joy that the Lord had made her to laugh the day he fulfilled her promise of a child (Genesis 21:6).  Though the word laugh was not used in the next example, John the Baptist's father was told there would be great joy and gladness and rejoicing at the birth of his son (Luke 1:13-14).  Both of these stories are examples of God providing a miraculous answer to a difficult situation.  These two families were beyond the natural realm of having children, and yet God gave them sons that would be used mightily by God.  Their response was to be overjoyed in their relief.  Their world and situation wasn't doomed to crumble before them.

When we go through rough times, sticking it out with God will see us through.  It will lead us to those laughing moments where we look back on our situation with relief, joy and understanding.  We'll see the big picture of all that we went through.  We'll see the moments that stressed us out and made us worry and we'll laugh at how meaningless the cause of the stress and worry really was.  We'll look at the tricks and temptations the devil tried to trap us with and we'll laugh at how ridiculous the idea of pursuing sin really was.  We'll look at our trial and laugh knowing that we overcame the odds and came through golden.  We'll laugh with rejoicing knowing we have found our promise and our moving on to the next great thing in God.

It's important to be glad and rejoice in victory, not to gloat or build ourselves up, but to give God His due and to be a testimony to those around us.  When we are glad and rejoicing, people are going to look at us with wonder.  They'll think to themselves, "What do they have to be so happy about?"  Some will think that thought with envy.  Others with hope.  Others with desperation.  Others with bitterness.  We can't let how others think this thought dictate how and when we rejoice.  An envious person will be envious regardless of what you say and how you say it.  The same goes for the hopeful, the desperate, the bitter and all others in between.  Our job is to sound the trumpet for what God has blessed for us when we come into the season of laughter.  The ones who get blessed because of it will be blessed because we rejoiced.  Our laughter may be the redemption that person needs.  So shout for joy when God does something good.  Let your praises to Him be known throughout the land, and watch how it affects those around you and how you influence them for good.  You'll find your laughter may just end up leading you to greater levels in the Kingdom than you ever imagined.

Take your rejoicing and gladness public
Start telling people how good God has been to you
Even in the little things, rejoice over His goodness, mercy and greatness
Watch how this affects the way people view you
For those who respond positively, see how you can use this to open the door to be a greater witness in their lives.