Why Laughter is Medicine for the Soul
By Wendy Wallace
Have you ever noticed that amid life’s greatest trials, God has a way of slipping in unexpected moments of joy?
He does what any good Father would do. He gives us the tools to take our minds off the pain and sadness and redirect our minds to better thoughts so that we can have the peace of God that we so desperately seek.
This is why laughter is medicine for the soul.
We often wonder why we are such emotional creatures. But we were created in the image of God. We have emotions because God has emotions. He gets angry and feels sad. But He also loves and delights in His people.
God even laughs.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” -Genesis 1:27 KJV
What does it look like when our world is falling apart?
When I was in a coma, fighting for my life due to a flesh-eating bacteria, two of my children used jokes and laughter as a coping mechanism. They needed to, although I’m sure that to outsiders it may have seemed inappropriate. Saving my life required the amputation of both hands and both feet. It was a devastating time.
We all have different ways of coping with the challenges in our lives.
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.” -Proverbs 17:22 KJV
How is laughter good for the soul?
In my recovery, after quadruple amputations, we learned just how laughter is medicine for the soul. Let’s face it, learning to walk on prosthetic legs is like watching a baby horse learn to walk.
It’s scary, painful, and yet it’s hysterical to watch.
I could have been wrapped up in the hard parts of it all, but laughter kept me focused on my goal . . . learning to walk again.
Eventually I was walking like a pro in my new prosthetic legs.
In the early days after my amputations, my spirit was broken. As a wife and mother, my identity was wrapped up in my ability to do ”all the things.”
Cooking, cleaning, and doing physical activities to care for my family defined who I believed I was.
Spending time with the Lord in prayer, and Bible study, especially in Ephesians chapter 1, helped me recognize that my hands and feet didn’t define me as a wife, mom, and child of God.
A broken spirit never serves us long-term. It robs us of our hope, halts the desire to move forward, and impacts our witness before others.
As a Christian, people watch to see our responses during hard times. Those who don’t know Jesus as their Savior, often question why we trust God through thick and thin.
They want us to lose our faith because when we falter, it reinforces their belief that faith isn’t real, and they don’t need Jesus. They may even consider us hypocrites.
It’s a huge responsibility that we should take seriously.
I would never want my actions to be a detriment to another soul.
In Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 KJV, King Solomon tells us Ecclesiastes 3:1:
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
He defines our seasons, and says there is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”
We can weep and mourn, but until we move into laughter and dancing, we cannot live in the joyfulness that we’re entitled to as a child of God.
Joy, peace, and faith are just some of the attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) These attributes are evidence of our relationship with Jesus Christ and keys to our spiritual growth.
When our relationship with Him is strong, it’s easy to find the joy and peace He so freely gives us.
It’s a gift!
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” –John 15:11 KJV
Ways that laughter is good for the soul.
It has been scientifically proven how laughter reduces stress and promotes physical healing. Laughter can increase heart, respiratory, and oxygen consumption, which creates relaxation.
It can also lower levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. And it can increase pain tolerance, and even improve self-esteem and mood.
If you’re wondering about how laughter heals the soul, think about all the positive benefits that laughter has created for your life.
Coping with difficult challenges using laughter is medicine for the soul.
Living without limbs can cause discomfort among friends, family members, and strangers. A quick joke, or attempt at levity, often serves to lighten the mood and remove the uncertain discomfort about what to say, especially when meeting someone new.
As a mom, it’s fun to occasionally provoke my children. One of my daughter’s favorite comebacks are, “Cut it out Mom, or I will steal your leg,” which is easily removed with the push of a button.
When my son was playing football in high school, I had the unfortunate experience of accidentally hitting that same button on my leg and having my leg fall off while sitting in the grass. Since this was early in my prosthetic-wearing experience, it caught me off guard.
My response was, “Oh no, my leg fell off,” which caused a bit of commotion in the audience.
Upon hearing about it after the game, my son laughed hysterically and decided it was a great tactic to distract the other team and suggested that I make it a regular practice at football games.
It’s much better to laugh and find gratitude and blessings in a situation than it is to cry about what you have no control over. Faith and humor can go hand in hand in the life of a Christian.
There are several examples in the Bible where laughter is part of the lesson.
Examples where laughter is good for the soul in the Scriptures.
“And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.” -Genesis 21:6 KJV
“Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.” -Luke 6:21 KJV
“Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of that mirth is heaviness.” – Proverbs 14:13 KJV
“Then was our mouth filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing: Then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.” -Psalm 126:2 KJV
Using Laughter to Find Joy in Our Journey
Finding joy in our journey is simple if we lead with gratitude seeking first the kingdom of God.
It’s easy to be anxious about the things that are wrong, hurtful, or difficult in our lives. But the Bible tells us to not worry about things we are facing.
Instead, through prayer and gratitude we must give our struggles over to God.
This is the recipe for peace in our lives.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7 KJV
Stop and smell the roses, smile at a sunrise, enjoy some funny quotes, and get joy and laughter from the antics of children or silly puppies.
Be present in each moment, and talk to the Lord throughout the day as if he’s right there in the room with you.
Philippians 4:6 tells us to be thankful for ALL things. That can be a tall order, but it’s not an unreasonable command.
God knows what’s best for us. He provides the Bible as our handbook for daily living. The more we learn about God, His character, and His promises, the easier it is for us to use laughter as the medicine for our soul.
Seek God’s presence and allow your joy to grow despite pain or struggles.
God sees our struggles. He has also given us the gift of laughter as a balm for our souls.
Laughter serves a wonderful purpose. It’s not a sin, but cracking inappropriate jokes is. There is a very distinct difference.
I am very thankful for the many moments of laughter and joy, spent with family and friends over the years. These times have been a powerful healing in my life. I pray that you allow laughter to play an important part in your healing.
Take the time to reflect on moments of joy in your life and seek God’s gift of learning how laughter is medicine for the soul every single day, especially during your trials.
“All the days of the afflicted are evil: But he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” -Proverbs 15:15 KJV
If you find this article life-giving, then please share it so it can bless others!
About the Author
Wendy Wallace is a wife, mom, Memaw, Christian life coach, Inspiration blogger, digital content creator, and author. She is also a quadruple amputee.
She loves spending time with her family, talking to her flowers, and eating lots of ice cream. You can find her at One Exceptional Life, where she helps women rediscover God’s joy, peace, and fulfillment amid the trials of life.
A flesh-eating bacterial infection resulted in a coma, a 3-month hospital stay, and amputations of both hands and both feet. What you might consider the worst thing that could’ve happened, actually was for her good and God’s glory.
By God’s wonderful grace, she is living “One Exceptional Life” where, in true form with 2 Corinthians 1:4, God comforted her in all her tribulations so that she can comfort, encourage, and lead other women in theirs. Follow her on Facebook or join her free FB Group – Women Living Exceptionally with Joy and Jesus.
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