When I was a child, I often stayed with my grandma. In every room, she had an icon. And in every icon, God was very, very sad and looked different. One day, I said, “God, I want to know the real You.” Years past, the Lord started teaching me about Him, His Character.
Maybe you’ve experienced something like that, too. You go to a church, but feel like God is a sad god. Or maybe you’ve also asked the same question I asked, “Does God laugh or smile? Does God have a sense of humor? “
Well, I believe that God has a great sense of humor. We are created in God’s own image, and since we have humor, our Creator has a sense of humor, too.
But understand that our definition of humor may not be the same as God’s definition. The world calls brutal jokes expressed at the expense of others, humor. God wants us to build others up, not tear them down. So while God has a sense of humor, it may not align with what the world calls humor.
Now, if God has humor, it means that He laughs, right?
So What Makes God Laugh?
If we are sincere, this is not the easiest question to answer. But the Bible talks about God laughing.
In the Book of Psalms 37:13 and Psalm 2:4, we see God laughing at the plans of the wicked. Meaning God laughs at those who attempt to thwart His plans. See, nobody can be able to stand against God. They may try just like the devil tried, but they will never succeed. So when He sees people trying to take His place, God laughs.
If God comforts those who mourn, we can also say that He laughs with those who laugh. We serve a God that enjoys being part of our life, and that means almighty God laughs with us when we laugh and cries with us when we cry.
What God Says about Laughter
• Laughter is a Good Medicine
In Proverbs 17:22, it says a joyful, cheerful heart is good medicine. It brings healing to both body and soul. Since the Bible is God’s written word, it is okay to say this is what God says. So from this verse, we can say that God says laughter is good medicine for our souls.
We need to learn how to be intentional about laughing. We can do this by focusing on things that make us laugh instead of the negative stuff shown on the media. The more we laugh, the less depressed we get and the more we enjoy good health.
• God will Fill our Mouth with Laughter
God is concerned about us. He wants His children to be happy in life and not wallow in self-pity and pain. That is why He fills our mouths with laughter (Job 8:21).
When you are sad, stand firm on this promise that God has given you so that you can be able to be filled with laughter. Yes, there will be times when you will go through different challenges. But you need to know that sadness is not God’s best for you. God enjoys seeing His children happy.
• In God’s Presence, There’s Fullness of Joy
If we want to live a life full of laughter, we should always spend time in God’s presence. God has promised us in His word in Psalms 16:11 that there is fullness of joy in His presence.
Prioritize your time with God if you are always battling with sadness and depression. Ask God to heal your soul. And to fill you with joy.
• There is a Time to Laugh
We go through different seasons in life. There are those times when we laugh, but there are times when we mourn. We need to be aware of the season that we are in and act accordingly. (Ecclesiastes 3:4)
See, there is no need to bury your sorrow with laughter in your hard times. It is okay to cry, and doing so does not in any way mean that you are not walking in faith. You should also not withhold yourself from being happy, all in the name of being ‘spiritual.’ If Daddy God has a sense of humor, then why shouldn’t you?
• Rejoice with those who Rejoice and Mourn with those who Mourn
Celebrate with your friends when they are happy and mourn with them when they weep. As Children of God, we need to build others up. And that means being there for them in their good and bad times. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
The truth is, what may seem small to you may be a huge deal for the person that is going through that challenge. You should not brush off their pain just because you’ve never been through it.
Even though healing is called the children’s bread (Matthew 15:22-29), Jesus still went ahead and healed people who needed healing. We need to understand that performing miracles was a piece of cake for Jesus. It wasn’t hard for Him to perform these miracles because He knew who He was. But Jesus listened to people and had compassion for them.
It’s not that Jesus didn’t know that He was going to resurrect Lazarus, but still, He moaned with Mary and Martha (John 11:35). Like our Savior, we should not take other people’s pain lightly; instead, we should be there for them and encourage them when they need us.
Does Jesus laugh in the Bible?
That Jesus was rejected and despised by people and suffered pain doesn’t mean that He never used to laugh. Though we don’t see anywhere in the Bible where it says directly that He laughed, we cannot overlook some things like:
• Children Liked Being around Jesus
For children to come to Jesus, He was a joyful person who used to laugh with them. No child will want to hang around a grumpy and bitter person. They love to laugh and play. If Jesus welcomed them with open arms, it means that they enjoyed being around Him. (Mark 10:13-16)
• Jesus Attended Parties
The first miracle that Jesus ever performed was at a wedding. Now, we all know that people don’t go to parties to complain and be angry. We attend weddings to celebrate with the bride and groom, which means there is a lot of laughing. And for the Jewish wedding, there is a lot of dancing.
I don’t think Jesus attended these parties with a stern look on His face. If Jesus was always harsh and rigid, people like Zacchaeus, who were battling with condemnation, would never invite Him to their houses. Jesus must have been a pleasant person, and that is why many people followed Him wherever He went. (Luke 19:1-10)
A person who is always stern and grumpy doesn’t enjoy being around people. But since Jesus enjoyed interacting with people and being around them, we can say that He used to laugh with these people.
• Jesus Used Humor in His Teaching
Another thing to note is the way Jesus could teach people. For example, in Matthew 7:3-5, He tells them not to focus on the spec that is on their brother’s eyes when they have a log in their own eyes. Though it was serious teaching, it seems like Jesus was also putting humor in His teachings so that people could easily relate to what He was saying.
• Jesus the Express Image of His Father
We also need to remember that Jesus is the express image of His Father (Hebrews 1:3). Meaning that if God has a sense of humor, then Jesus laughs too.
How do you Make God laugh?
Okay, we already know that the wicked make God laugh when they plot against Him. But how do we Christians make our Heavenly Father laugh?
● By walking in alignment with His plans and doing the things that are pleasing to Him
● When we are truly happy and operating from the point of joy. And that means walking in the Holy Spirit
● When we spend time in His presence, pouring our hearts to Him and just enjoying who He is
● When we put Him first in everything that we do
● By loving others and being there for them in their good and bad times
● When you accept His Son Jesus as your Lord and Savior
Does God have a Sense of Humor?
Yes, I believe He does. Religion has made it seem like God is very harsh, and He doesn’t laugh at all.
But the fact is that we love to laugh and enjoy being around people who make us laugh. And because we were created in God’s image, we are a reflection of God’s character on this earth. So, if we, humans, love a good sense of humor, then God who created us loves it, too.
If we have a sense of humor, then the One who created us has a sense of humor as well.
Jesus is the express image of His Father. And as we read the Bible, we see that He loved children, attended parties, and enjoyed being with people. Jesus wouldn’t have done all those things if He didn’t have a sense of humor. If the Father and Son are One, then God has a sense of humor too.
It is okay for you to laugh and have fun. It doesn’t make you less spiritual.
Our Father fills us with joy, and that means that He enjoys seeing His children happy. But we should be cautious because not all humor is good. We shouldn’t laugh at the expense of other people’s happiness.
Hope you will enjoy watching this video by Living Waters, “Does God Have a Sense of Humor?” (the first 15 minutes)
What do you think, does God have a good sense of humor? And is laughing good for us? Share it in the comments below.
Shalom & Blessings,
Haly
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Thank you Haly. It was a good reminder for me. Be happy and laugh more because God gave us joy as the fruit of the Spirit. And He has the sense of humor!!!
Amen, Iryna! 🙂
Joy is the choice. Paul wrote to us all – REJOICE ALWAYS! It could be a difficult thing, but the more we choose joy, the easier it becomes. We take things and ourselves too seriously. We just need to relax, not to be hard on ourselves, enjoy the presence of our Heavenly Father… and learn to laugh.
May God fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy!
Blessings,
Haly