Nancy Hughes: Laughter- What's in it for me?

“Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone
who hears about this will laugh with me.’”
Genesis 21:6 (NIV)

As a nurse, I am here to tell you that laughter is good medicine. The idea is not new. It actually was God’s idea. It’s a part of His personality. In Psalms 2:4 we are told “The One enthroned in heaven laughs.”

Now in that particular Scripture God wasn’t laughing because the situation taking place was funny but He was laughing. We are made in His image so we can be very certain He created laughter as part of our personalities.

There are several accounts in the Bible of people laughing. When God revealed to Abraham that he was going to be a father and have a son, we are told in Genesis 17:17 that “Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’”

Read on in Chapter 18:10 and 11: “Then the Lord said, ‘I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.’” Scripture tells us that Sarah was listening to this conversation and could not contain her laughter as well.

Honestly, we can pretty much figure out why Abraham was laughing: he knew that Viagra hadn’t been invented yet. But I am quite certain that Sarah’s laugh bordered on hysteria. Bottles and diapers and up all night at 90 years of age? No way! Can I get a collective “AMEN,” Sisters?

But because the Lord is faithful, Sarah became pregnant as He had promised and gave birth to a son and named him Isaac, which means “he laughs.”

California’s Loma Linda University published research regarding laughter. The studies show that there are very positive effects on our immune system when we laugh.

They observed that laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases the ability of our muscles to flex and boosts immune function by raising levels of white blood cells which fight infection and disease in the body.

Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins (brain chemicals) which are the body’s natural painkillers. And if that weren’t enough, laughter produces a sense of well-being in our bodies. God absolutely knew what He was doing when he created laughter in us.

And, did you know that up to 80 muscles are used during a big laugh? A German professor found in his studies that a ONE MINUTE hearty laugh has the same health benefits as a 45 minute gym workout!! That’s because laughing provides a workout for the diaphragm and increases the body’s ability to use oxygen. (Stop and time a one minute belly laugh and your daily workout is done!)

So is laughter good medicine for us? Absolutely. Yes, there will be times in our lives, as it says in Proverbs 14:13, where “Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.” But laughter can often put a whole new outlook on tough situations.

Think about events that have happened in your life that made you laugh out loud. How did you feel after you laughed? Sad? Discouraged? Angry? Resentful? Or did you feel like you just got an energy boost from the Lord?

I encourage you this week, whatever you may face, to remember that God’s gift of laughter is soothing and healing and it is indeed the very best kind of medicine there is.

Father, there are so many times when I am quick to become angry or frustrated or discouraged when I should take a breath and simply laugh. You created laughter for my benefit. Please help me to remember that every day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

Make a list of every situation or disappointment or frustration that has come your way this last week.

Could any of those situations have had a more positive outcome if you had simply stopped, taken a deep breath, and laughed at what was happening?

Application

Memorize Psalm 126:2 this week and speak it whenever a situation occurs and you are tempted to react with anger.

Stand in front of your mirror with a stop watch, think of something funny that has happened, and laugh for one minute. Workout complete!

Power Verses

Genesis 21:6 (NIV) “Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’”

Psalm 126:2 (NIV) “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

Psalm 2:4 (NIV) “The One enthroned in heaven laughs…”

(For more of Nancy Hughes' writing, check out her blog Encouragement from the War Room.)