A Good Laugh

In addition to tuning out our fears and turning up the volume on truth, we must fight fear with laughter.  Sound ridiculous, even a little irreverent?

Irreverence is precisely the point. We must not dignify our fears--sin-generated, false predictions of a graceless and God-less future--by giving them the attention and obedience due only to God and His Word. Laughing at our fears is entirely appropriate, because up against God's promises they not only look, but actually are, ridiculous.

The Proverbs 31 woman doesn't take herself, or her fears, too seriously: "She laughs at the future in contrast with being worried or fearful about it" (ESV Study Bible note, Pr. 31:25). This may sound flippant or naive if we don't already know her to be a woman of diligence, wisdom, and strength. She trusts God, and so she laughs.

"One of Satan’s great lies is that God—and goodness—is joyless and humorless," explains Randy Alcorn:

"In fact, it’s Satan who’s humorless. Sin didn’t bring him joy; it forever stripped him of joy. In contrast, envision Jesus with his disciples. If you cannot picture Jesus teasing them and laughing with them, you need to reevaluate your theology of Creation and Incarnation. We need a biblical theology of humor that prepares us for an eternity of celebration, spontaneous laughter, and overflowing joy."

Laughter, not fear-filled wonderings, will properly prepare us for our future: our immediate future and our eternal future full of celebration and overflowing joy. So thank God for His promises today and "laugh at the days to come."