When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lordhas done great things for us; we are glad. (Psalm 126:1-3 ESV)
Laughter and Faith
When laughter is mocking, it is a horrible thing.
Because laughter was intended as a gift, not as a tool for hurting, belittling, or deriding.
Psalm 126 shows us clearly why God created laughter. Laughter is a way to remember good things. Laughter is a way to find joy because of what God has done for us. Laughter is a way to find faith, hope, and love.
Good laughter is both the result of our true memories and the cause of future good memories. Good laughter looks back at our lives and remembers fondly… remembers accurately God’s loving acts… remembers the past fulfillment of even further past hopes.
In the dark of the night, remembering sorrow and failure and despair does not bring an end to the shadow. But remembering God’s answers to prayer and laughing brings light to today’s darkness.
When the chasms on either side of our path overwhelm us, remembering the sadness of our slips, and slides, and falls does not keep our feet well placed. But remembering God’s happy protections and smile-signed guideposts enables us to see where our feet belong.
Christ, as the creator must have laughed when He planned and made a platypus. And while so much of creation has been twisted and made ugly by Adam’s (and our) sin, laughing at the antics of the silly animal brings us back to remembering… goodness… joy… perfection.
Laughter is founded in yesterday, and in our trusting in God’s definition of what yesterday was. Yesterday was God doing good things for us. Believe Him and laugh in that faith.
Take the faith God grants us.