Laughter

My granddaughter has been staying over the Christmas period, and it has been a joy. I should say she is a bundle of joy. One of the things I’ve enjoyed is making her laugh. Her laugh has melted my heart. So I try again and again to make her laugh, to hear the sound.

Laughter, of course, can mean many things.

I’ve met people in different cultures of the world who laugh even when they’re angry. In my culture, we laugh at times when we cannot believe what we have heard or seen.

When Sarah’s visitors first announced that she would give birth herself, she laughed. It was a laughter born out of bitterness and pain and not a little cynicism. However, all that would change; the reason for the laughter would take on a wholesome one, for God would do what He said He would do. Sarah was going to name the newborn, Isaac, his name importantly meaning ‘laughter’, and this time, this old lady was indeed filled with perfect laughter at what God had done for her.

For, thankfully, it still does mean unbelievable joy.

“Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. ² Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. ³ Abraham gave the name Isaacto the son Sarah bore him. ⁴ When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. ⁵ Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. ⁶ Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” ⁷ And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 20 v 1-7)

God said it, and God did it.

Bitter laughter has become wondrous laughter, and Sarah knew this would be a shared experience for many. Her impossible hope is now a reality.

I have seen many people roll their eyes and laugh at the thought that God would fulfil His promise to them. Why? They have waited so long.

Is this you? Are you waiting? For healing? For a breakthrough? For wisdom?

Will you laugh with cynicism if what is in your heart is raised in a conversation? God transforms bitter laughter into blessed laughter, and this new year to come could well be your year of thankful laughter.

Can you imagine having a child who, every time you called him, you were saying, ‘Hey, laughter, come here’, or something similar?

Sarah’s laughter is echoing towards you today. Hold on, be patient, don’t let go of hope, laughter is on its way to you, and it is in the purest form, full of joy and thankfulness.