Laughter and Christianity

Laughter is I believe a profoundly underestimated quality of God (and the character of well-being, joy, and love). Laughter does not always reflect this quality, for sure, but when it does, the power of it is releasing and liberating and a very visible witness to God’s love in our lives, despite what may be happening to us. As the Psalmist states in Psalm 126:2 – “Our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’” This notion of ‘divine laughter’ is also explored and recommended by Herman Hesse in his novel, Steppenwolf – he explores the human condition, and a man’s persistent search for meaning in the face of what often appears in life as absurd and unfathomable. In Chapter Four of my book Nine Steps to Well-Being: A Spiritual Guide for Disconnected Christians and Other Questioning Journeyers, I also give a personal account of how God’s laughter (it being filled with his love for us and the promise of our salvation in Christ) can even be a first response to our prayers, and which we would do well to listen for.  

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