Laughing Out Loud

Welcome to today's encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional. Our reading titled, Laughing Out Loud, was written by Allison Keita. Comedian John Branion said, We didn't think up laughter. That wasn't our idea. That was given to us by God, who knew we were going to need it to get through life. Because He knew we were going to have hardship, He knew we were going to have struggles, He knew stuff was going to happen. Laughter is a gift. A quick look at the creatures God made can bring laughter, whether because of their oddities, such as duck-billed platypuses, or antics, such as playful otters.

He made mammals that live in the ocean and long-legged birds that can't fly. God clearly has a sense of humor, and because we're created in His image, we too have the joy of laughter. We first see the word laughter in the Bible in the story of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 15. God promised this elderly couple a child, a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.

And God had said, Look up at the sky and count the stars, so shall your offspring be. When Sarah finally gave birth at ninety, Abraham named their son Isaac, which means laughter. As Sarah exclaimed, God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. It amazed her that she could nurse a child at her age. God transformed her skeptical laughter when she'd heard she'd give birth into laughter of sheer joy.

Thank God for the gift of laughter. Today's Our Daily Read devotional scripture reading is from Genesis chapter 21, verses 1 through 7. Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah, as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what He had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.

And she added, Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children, yet I have borne him a son in his old age? Let's pray. Dear God, we thank you for giving us the beautiful gift of laughter. In a world that's filled with so much negativity, help us to see the good that is all around us and fill our hearts with joy. We thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening today. I'm Rachelle Traub and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.