Focus: Divine Laughter

Text: Gen.21:6

"And Sarah said, God hath MADE me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh WITH me."

Have you laughed lately? When was the last time you really laughed? Let me announce to you right away that you are about to experience an extraordinary laughter of God's making. The Scripture says that there is "a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance" (Ecl.3:4). I love the order: laughter after weeping, and dancing after mourning. That means that regardless of life's twists and turns, laughter and dance will come at last. You will laugh and dance last. It means that you will not weep forever, and that somewhere along the line you'll experience joy and laughter.

*Due season of laughter

God says, "I will certainly return unto thee according to the TIME OF LIFE… At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the TIME OF LIFE, and Sarah shall have a son… For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the SET TIME of which God had spoken to him" (Gen.18:10,14; 21:2). 'Time of life' means due season. 'Set time' means appointed time. There is a time to laugh and dance. Get ready your dancing shoes. Prepare your mouth for laughter. Laughter is a kind of spice; it causes the taste buds to burst open, filling the mouth with flavor. When we laugh we saturate the atmosphere with joy. Laughter is heavenly. It is spiritual.

*Divine laughter

Sarah says, "God has made me to laugh…" This is laughter from heaven. God orchestrated it. God packaged it. God released it. God made it happen. For the greater part of her life, Sarah had been barren. Her womb was a sort of under lock and key until God was ready to open it. It was a miracle. Sarah's whole life was changed by it. The later part of her life was filled with laughter. She says, "All that hear will laugh with me." People shared in her joy. They laughed with her. Her laughter was contagious. Her laughter was an endless celebration. For as long as she lived, she laughed, and people were a part of her laughter. It was laughter at old age. She carried a son in her arms who made her laugh for the rest of her life. Every day Sarah had reason to laugh. Her son's name is called Isaac. In Gen.17:19, God tells Abraham to call his son's name, Isaac, and in Gen.21:3, He gives him the name - yitschâq. The name Isaac is derived from the word tsâchaq. In Ex.32:6, it is translated as 'play,' meaning that laughter is fun, and fun is healing. It's a healthy practice to laugh. You can even laugh at yourself. Laughter is a divine medicine; cheap, affordable and effective. In Gen.26:8 and Judges 16:25, it is translated as 'sporting' and 'sport' respectively.

Real laughter is sweet. It is life's flavor - very tasty. The face sparkles with laughter, especially laughter from the belly. It feels good to laugh. Life comes alive with laughter. Laughter is a revitalizing experience; it's resurrection life flowing from one's spirit.

Anne Lamott said that "laughter is carbonated holiness." That is the laughter of a saint. It is holiness dissolving and distilling. Holy laughter is contagious. Holiness does not stifle laughter; it inspires and stirs laughter and makes it bubble.

Just laugh! Laugh at the impossible. Laugh at yourself. Look at yourself in the mirror, and just laugh. Laugh it out. God will fill your mouth with laughter. You will laugh from within - laughter from the depth of your being. Sarah laughed within, and you will. God is preparing you for laughter. You will soon burst into laughter - laughter made possible by your God.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter