WORD OF THE WEEK - LAUGH - 9-28-25

Definition:  to express mirth, pleasure, derision, or nervousness with an audible, vocal expulsion of air from the lungs that can range from a loud burst of sound to a series of quiet chuckles and is usually accompanied by characteristic facial and bodily movements.

Scriptures:


Genesis 17:17 - “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”



Job 8: 21 - “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers. He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.



Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore,”

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Transcript

Definition:  to express mirth, pleasure, derision, or nervousness with an audible, vocal expulsion of air from the lungs that can range from a loud burst of sound to a series of quiet chuckles and is usually accompanied by characteristic facial and bodily movements.
Scriptures:

Genesis 17:17 - “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”
Job 8: 21 - “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers. He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.
Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore,”
THOUGHT
Laughter is often linked to joy—but it also surfaces in moments of embarrassment, irony, and even pain. We laugh nervously when we’re unsure, or when things don’t go as expected. Sometimes, laughter complements anger or sharpens scorn. Bitter words sting deeper when paired with a mocking laugh. Even the mistakes of others—falling, tripping, or groin hits—have made America’s Funniest Home Videos a long-running laugh-fest.
But laughter isn’t just human. God laughs. And God hears when and why we laugh, as seen in the story of Sarah and Abraham.
In Genesis, Sarah grew sorrowful because she hadn’t borne a child in her youth. Trying to help God fulfill His promise, she gave her maidservant to Abraham, who fathered a child. Over time, Sarah regretted her decision and resented both the maidservant and the child.
Later, when Sarah overheard the promise that she would bear a son in her old age, she laughed to herself and said, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” (Genesis 18:12). Her laughter revealed disbelief, not faith. But when God fulfilled His promise, her laughter changed: “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me” (Genesis 21:6). Her joy was born from trust.
Sarah’s story isn’t about age, gender, or physical ability. It’s about trust—trust in God’s timing, trust in our ability to produce, and trust that joy follows obedience. Sarah and Abraham had everything they needed to bear fruit, except the willingness to follow the course.
Like Sarah, many of us wrestle with discouragement when life’s timing doesn’t match our own. She cursed what God had blessed. She laughed at His sovereignty. She doubted, schemed, and lived much of her life stressed, embarrassed, and hopeless—laughing to keep from crying.
But her story reminds us: joy comes from obedience and trust. It also comes from what we produce—fruit that blesses us and those who love us.
We were created to bear fruit according to our purpose. And from that purpose flows pleasure, joy, and laughter. Acts of kindness, however small, can rekindle joy and spark more laughter in our lives.
Feeling like you laugh less than you used to? Want to laugh more?
Try this:1. Send a brief note of love to someone you care about.2. Smile at a stranger and say hello.3. Ask someone in line, “How’s your day going?”4. Invite a child to show you their funniest face.5. Hug your teenager or young adult—randomly.6. Surprise your spouse with a single rose on their pillow.
What are you doing? Producing joy in others that returns to you, in giggles, chuckles and laughter.
See: No matter your age, physical condition, or status—you can still produce.

JOKE: “Why did the chicken cross the road? Because he didn’t realize he was already where God needed him to be.”