A Prayer to Prioritize Laughter - Your Daily Prayer - June 11

A Prayer to Prioritize Laughter
By Lia Girard

Bible Reading:
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” — Proverbs 17:22

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Anyone can choose to medicate sadness or stress away with any number of helpful or not-so-helpful options. But today, I’d like to offer laughter as one of the best all-around medicines. Laughter is a great way to lift your mood, oxygenate your body, and move your muscles. It’s free, fun, and intended by God for you to enjoy.

In fact, the popular adage, “laughter is the best medicine,” is biblically based. Proverbs 17:22 proclaims—

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Multiple university studies have scientifically proven that laughter reduces stress and lowers blood pressure. When we’re able to laugh at our circumstances or ourselves, we’re less likely to be crushed by unexpected difficulties or challenges. I’m not suggesting the kind of laughter that’s laced with mockery or malintent, but the kind of laughter that comes as a reward for hard work. Or from taking yourselves or the day’s events lightly, rather than letting them bring you down and keep you there.

Laughter offers the potential to heal relationships, soften disappointment, and melt tension. Perhaps that’s why God designed us to laugh when we’re thrilled, overjoyed, or relieved. Sometimes laughter leaps up when God surprises you with “how He loves.” Or with something that “only God could do.” Like when Sarah laughed in Genesis 21:6, realizing God had given her a son in her advanced age. Even her son’s name, Isaac, means “laughter.”

The redemptive power of laughter is likely at the core of many psalms that encourage shouting in praise, filling our mouths with laughter to replace tears, or, as Psalm 100:1 says, to “make a joyful noise unto the LORD.”

There’s no doubt this life on earth brings misery and trouble. God knew we’d need laughter to get through hardships, which makes it a truly divine gift, intended for good use. It’s evidence of the soul-deep joy referenced in Nehemiah 8:10, which states “the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

That’s why I propose that we consider laughter not just a luxury, but a priority. Because it does, in fact, have the capacity to do a body good. So why not do it every day? Couldn’t this be a great way to model for others that even in a sinful world, there’s always joy somewhere? Laughter can bubble up into expressions of gratitude, opening pathways for shared affection and appreciation.

Are you having an off day? Feeling low or stressed lately? Maybe you need a good laugh. Not an angry or snarky laugh at someone’s expense or in bad taste, but belly-deep laughter that relaxes you. Do you have a friend or sibling you can call to laugh about memories? Is there a clean comedian you can make plans to watch? How about a new hobby you’ve never tried? Can you give it a shot with a friend and laugh at your own amateurism?

Maybe there’s a movie that brings you joy, or an activity that thrills you. Don’t keep putting it off. Keep laughter a priority in your life. It might just make everything else more tolerable, or perhaps, even pleasurable.

Let’s pray.

Dear God,

I've been letting all that's happening in the world these days get me down. So many things threaten to steal my joy, whether it's aging, peer pressure, overwhelm, or anything that feels uncomfortable to me. I know I'm not the only one juggling hardships with obligations and feeling like there's little room for laughter.

I'm asking you today to shower me with situations, people, sounds, and sights that delight me. Help my eyes and hands land on things that are genuinely, joyfully funny. And help me not to take my own weaknesses and inabilities so seriously. Teach me to laugh at myself and be glad for the day you have made. Guide me to look for good news and uplifting ideas, rather than suspecting the worst or missing out on the best.

Help me model laughter with others so that, together, we can invite true joy into our own lives and the world. I praise you for the gift of gladness and want to reflect that more in my life.

I love you and thank you, Lord. Amen.

Discuss today’s devotional with others in the Your Daily Prayer thread on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/jacoblund

Lia Girard is a seasoned writer, poet, and voice artist who formerly served as Faith Editor for Crosswalk.com. She currently co-hosts the Your Daily Prayer podcast on LifeAudio, and shares her peaceful, reflective poetry inspired by the wonders of nature on Instagram @wildpeace.poetry. Lia enjoys life with her husband and grown children, and walking in the woods with God.

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