Research has once again verified what the Bible has told us for thousands of years: laughter is good medicine. God inspired that message in Proverbs 17:22 when the writer noted, “A merry heart does good, like medicine.” There is nothing quite as delightful as the giggle and laughter of a little baby. There is something so pure and happy about that sound that it brings a smile to our faces.

Laughter and the appreciation of good humor is something adults need to learn. Somewhere between childhood and our mature years, we have lost far too much of this wonderful blessing. At four years of age, children laugh about 400 times a day. Adults laugh less and less as the years pass. Fifteen laughs a day is rare for an adult. A quote attributed to Will Rogers goes, “We are all here for a spell; get all the good laughs you can.”

Authorities in the medical profession inform us that laughter releases endorphins which make us feel happy. Laughter also relieves stress and increases red blood cell count. That’s quite amazing when we stop to think about it. Another benefit of laughter is that people migrate towards a happy person. That old adage, “Laugh and the world laughs with you—cry and you cry alone,” does carry some weight.

There is something about the laughter we hear that tugs at triggers in our minds. We can tell when a person is laughing wholeheartedly, and when his or her laughter rings false. When little children laugh, or when people are enjoying a really good belly laugh, we smile and laugh with them.

We may not even know why a person is laughing, but nevertheless, it is infectious. There are, however, different kinds of laughter.

The healthy kind is genuine, unpretentious, involuntary and sometimes hard to control. I recall when I was on an airplane flight some years ago. A friend had given me a book with the stories of veterinarian James Herriot. I had a headset on and was listing to music as I was reading the humorous stories. I began to smile, chuckle, laugh and then roar to the point that I had to put the book down. It just got funnier and funnier. Maybe it was the high altitude, but it seemed every story was bursting with pure humor. That was what I would call a healthy laugh. Luckily, I managed to stop before I disturbed too many of the passengers, though several were trying to see what I was reading.

I can also remember sitting in a large audience when a respected speaker told a joke. Everyone was laughing, but for the life of me, I did not get the joke at all. I am not sure that everyone around me did either, but for some reason we do not want to appear foolish when we don’t understand a joke. We may smile or twitter a bit, but the laughter is contrived and phony. I can recall a number of times when someone in a high position was telling a story that was intended to be humorous and people about him were roaring with laughter, but it was obvious that the laughter was not genuine, and the story was not truly funny. Some people are very poor joke tellers, and wisdom would dictate that they don’t try. Likewise, when the person laughing is only making noise for fear that he would be criticized for not appreciating a speaker, or to be polite, it just does not sound “happy.”

My mother had a saying: “After too much laughter comes crying.” We tarnish our honesty when we laugh uproariously at a poor joke told poorly. Sometimes in embarrassing situations, people laugh to cover up their deep inner feelings. A forced laugh might be our way of conforming to situations or making ourselves look supportive of and interested in someone we want to impress. Negative laughter is not really laughter at all, in my way of thinking.

Another type of laughter is connected to scorn and ridicule. When Jesus said a young girl who died was only sleeping, some “laughed Him to scorn” (Luke 8:53). This was more of a sneering, mocking laugh. There is nothing positive that comes out of such a response. Sometimes when people are afraid of something they cannot understand or that they feel threatened by, they give a nervous laugh.

Jesus knew His followers would have periods of great concern and sober contemplation—even periods of weeping. But He promised the time would come for them to laugh (Luke 6:21); a time in which they would leap for joy (Luke 6:23). God is clearly not against joy, happiness, laughter and healthy mirth. He created the ability for humans to have and develop a sense of humor, but He does not develop it for us. As in so many areas of life, our great Creator places choices before us and gives us abilities. As we choose wisely and well, our ability to choose also improves. A good sense of humor is a vital key to maintaining a hopeful and positive outlook on life. There is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

God’s sense of humor is shown as He tested Abraham and Sarah. He promised them a son, but because He wanted them to know for sure that this was a “miracle baby,” God waited until Sarah was far too old to conceive. When He told them of the soon-coming pregnancy, Sarah and Abraham both laughed within (Genesis 17:17-19; 18:12). This was more of an incredulous laugh, so God told them to name the son Isaac, which means “Laughter.” Later, after Isaac was born, Sarah said God had made her laugh—a little different kind of laugh this time; it was one of pleasure or merriment (Genesis 21:6-7). Peter said we have reason to feel inexpressible and glorious joy because we are receiving the goal of our faith (1 Peter 1:8-9). It is hard to think of that degree of joy without whooping and hollering. Happy hearts and smiling faces go together.

We live in a world controlled by the god of darkness. Negative influences barrage us constantly. Fighting the good fight includes learning how to deflect the negatives and maintain a positive outlook until Christ returns. We are expected to do that. Knowing the value of laughter and humor can inspire us to develop the ability to laugh—at ourselves, at circumstances and at life. Good humorous stories, good jokes and appreciating the joys of life (and dwelling on these things) will put a smile on our faces and in our hearts. There are some wonderful comedies and terrific comedians in show business. There are also some comedies that are simply crass and anything but uplifting. It is the situations that do not make fun of people, but highlight the fun in life (that which is fun today and will not leave lingering negative effects) that build the healthy mind. It does not come naturally; it is something God wants us to reach for and make our own.

In times of trouble, a good sense of humor will cushion us. In good times, it enhances life. Let us not lose this valuable gift from God. Learn to laugh, and it will add years to your life.

Further reading

For more on the subject of a healthy mind, please read our article, “The Bible’s Keys to Mental Health.”