As a young woman, I was extremely serious. Because of the years of sexual abuse I endured growing up, I really never knew what it was like to have a childhood—to live care-free and just laugh …
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As a young woman, I was extremely serious. Because of the years of sexual abuse I endured growing up, I really never knew what it was like to have a childhood—to live care-free and just laugh and play.
I’ll never forget the time I went to see a doctor several years back. As he examined me, he remarked, “You’re an intense person, aren’t you?” He was right. My personality is by nature a little more serious, but I had to learn how to enjoy my life.
Joy is a major part of God’s plan for us. Romans 14:17 tells us that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. It’s part of His will for our everyday lives!
What is joy? It’s not just about entertaining ourselves all of the time or doing something fun. As I mentioned, joy has been defined as everything from “extreme hilarity” to “a calm delight.” Since I’m a more serious person by nature, the “calm delight” definition is usually my state of joy. But a good belly laugh is sometimes just what we need!
Joy is also a spiritual weapon. For instance, Nehemiah 8:10 (AMPC) says, “...the joy of the Lord is your strength....” And Psalm 16:11 (AMPC) tells us where to find joy. It says, “...in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”
Like peace, God is our Source of joy, but we also have a choice. Life will never be perfect—we will always have circumstances to deal with. But it’s how we respond to those circumstances that makes all of the difference.
Proverbs 17:22 (AMPC) contains some great advice if we will heed it. I know it’s simple, but it’s more powerful than we think. It says, “A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing....”
Take a moment and think about how you’ve been approaching life. Do you find yourself just trying to make it through the day? If you’re honest with yourself, can you even remember the last time you had a good laugh? Well, I want you to know that the joy of the Lord can ease anxiety, depression, and emotional and physical pain...it can bring you a new level of satisfaction in life.
Laughter is the outward evidence of inward joy, and it is proven to make you feel better. I once heard someone say that laughter is like internal jogging, and I think that is so true. Laughter improves emotional and mental health, it lifts our spirits, and it dispels worry.
It’s almost impossible to laugh and be sad at the same time. This is why we would be wise to express our joy and take time to laugh every chance we get. God has given us the ability to laugh for a reason. It may seem like a little thing, but laughter is vitally important in the battle against discouragement, stress, anxiety, fear, and worry. It’s a tool from God that benefits us in so many ways.
For more on this topic, order Joyce’s three-part teaching resource Joy and Enjoyment. You can also contact us to receive our free magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting www.joycemeyer.org.
Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 140 books, including BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND and OVERCOMING EVERY PROBLEM (FaithWords). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visit www.joycemeyer.org.
Please note: The views and opinions expressed throughout this publication and/or website are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Joyce Meyer Ministries.