The Bible, in Proverbs 17:22 (AMP), says “A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones”. When it comes to good mental health and emotional well-being, happiness is like an anecdote of medicine. We can glean, from this scripture, that humor and laughter fosters a happy heart and has holistic benefits. That is to say that it is good for our physical, mental/emotional and spiritual health. God, in His infinite wisdom, created us with the ability to recognize when something is funny and laugh. There are more than 40 references to laughter in the Bible, so God must have a sense of humor and want us to laugh too. God ordained laughter and joy just as He did tears and sorrow, fun and seriousness (cf. Job 8:21). Laughter is a universal language. Everyone needs to enjoy a good laugh now and then! The Bible teaches us the blessedness of mourning and cautions us against using humor inappropriately (cf. Matthew 5:4, Psalm 34:18, Jeremiah 31:13, Ecclesiastes 7:3, Ephesians 5:4), but Christians should also laugh. There is a place for humor in the body of Christ. Faith and humor is not incompatible. Jesus even appreciated humor and perhaps laughed with the children (cf. Matthew 19:14). He also often used sarcasm, puns, enigmas and paradoxes that may be sometimes be perceived as humorous.
Did you know?
- The average child laughs an average of 150 times a day (University of Michigan Researchers)
- Children “belly laugh” one time every 7.5 minutes (American Association of Christian Counselors)
- The average adult only laughs an average of 15 times a day (Unknown Source).
Laughter is Medicine for Your Soul
The outward expression of a happy heart is laughing and smiling! Laughter is heart medicine. It is interesting that the word ‘medicine’, as used in Proverbs 17:22, means removal of a bandage or healing of a wound. Laughter is definitely good medicine for the soul (mind, will and emotions). The heart is said to be the ‘seat of the soul’. If there is something wrong with your soul, it will affect your physical and spiritual health as well. A study, done by Johns Hopkins University, revealed that laughter also increases memory and learning. Increase in memory and learning leads to increased test scores for students, improved performance for employees, and fosters successful accomplishments and achievements in other areas of life. It is a documented fact that laughter relieves stress, improves one’s mood, and eases one’s anxieties and fears.
Laughter alone might not heal a person, but jovial laughing sure is like medicine that makes one feel better. Have you ever heard the saying, ‘laughing is contagious’? Even if you see or hear people laughing at a joke you didn’t hear, chances are you will smile or laugh too. According to a recent study, the brain responds to the sound of laughter and preps the muscles in the face to join in the merriment.
There is Healing Power in Your Laughter
The inward expression of a happy heart is physical, mental and emotional well-being. God created us, in His image, as a triune being (mind, body and spirit). If one of these areas is hurting, and in need of healing, it affects your entire person. Over the years, doctors and health care professionals have reported many benefits to laughter. Research, conducted by the Department of Behavioral Medicine at the UCLA Medical School found that the diaphragm, thorax, abdomen, heart, lungs and even the liver are given a massage during a hearty laugh.
Laughter causes the release of endorphins, a chemical in the body that relieves pain, and creates a sense of overall well-being (Dr. Lee Bark). Here are some other benefits to our holistic health:
Physical Health: Laughter increases antibodies and strengthens your immune system; gives a workout to your diaphragm; lowers your blood pressure; relaxes your muscles; stimulates your heart and improve circulatory and cardiovascular condition; enhances blood flow to the heart and brain; helps you to lose weight by burning one calorie per minute; reduces pain and increases pain tolerance.
Mental/Emotional Health: Laughter is a natural anti-depressant, decreases hormone stress levels, alleviates tension, improves one’s mood, eases anxieties and fears, and enhances coping skills;cheerfulness materially changes brain chemistry helping to enhance mental health and ease one’s mind.
Spiritual Health: Laughter and happiness expresses our joy in the Lord and glorifies Him, strengthens our relationships, keeps us united in the love of God, heals and replenishes our spirit, diffuses interpersonal conflict, and sweetens our fellowship. “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them (Psalm 126:2 NKJV).”
Don’t let anything crush your spirit. Don’t let the devil steal your joy. Rejoice in the Lord! Laugh Out Loud (LOL)!
Dr Linda H King
