Have you ever wondered what makes God laugh?

I have.
And honestly? I think we do.

As much as we laugh at our children—their antics, their honesty, their surprisingly insightful comments—why wouldn’t God laugh at ours? He is, after all, our heavenly Father. And I imagine there are moments He looks at me with tender amusement and thinks, Oh, my sweet girl… look at you go.

Truth be told, I give Him plenty of material. I can be quite silly. And I’m convinced He delights in it.

Laughter Is Part of the Design

Somewhere along the line, we picked up the idea that holiness means somberness—that reverence is quiet, serious, and straight-faced. But Scripture paints a different picture:

“You will show me the path of life;
in Your presence is fullness of joy;
at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
— Psalm 16:11

“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.”
— Psalm 32:11

“Well done, good and faithful servant…
Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
— Matthew 25:23

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you,
and that your joy may be full.”
— John 15:11

These verses aren’t about momentary happiness. They speak of deep, enduring joy—the kind that flows from being near to God. Joy is not a distraction from our spiritual life. It is part of our spiritual life.

And laughter? That’s joy in motion.

Laughter as Worship

I believe laughter is one of the purest, most human, and most divine expressions we’ve been given.
It lightens the load.
It brings perspective.
It lifts us from the dust and reminds us that we are alive—and deeply loved.

Colossians 3:23 says:

“Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord…”

Whatever.
That includes our laughter.

Humor shows the joy, the passion, and even the adventure of the Christian life.
It tells the world that following Jesus isn’t drudgery—it’s delight.

Laughter, like music, is one of God’s great gifts. It gives us a way to express what words sometimes can’t—emotion, joy, gratitude, connection. It bonds us to one another. It reminds us that life is a gift, not just a responsibility.

Laughing Through It All—Even the Hard Stuff

One of the most powerful things about laughter is that it brings perspective—even to suffering. It doesn’t erase the pain, but it invites joy to share the space.

The one who knows Christ can laugh even in the face of death, because we know that death is not the end.

To die with Christ in our hearts is to live—and laugh—with Him forever.

So, Go Ahead—Laugh

Laugh at yourself. Laugh with your people. Laugh at the moments of irony and grace that come out of nowhere. Laugh at life’s absurdities. Laugh in worship. Laugh in healing. Laugh because you’re free.

Enjoy the gift of humor.
Let it remind you of how deeply God loves you.
Let it remind you that joy is not just for heaven—it’s for now.

Put things in perspective.
Let go of what doesn’t matter.
And embrace the truth:
Life is meant to be laughed at.

“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints…
For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation…
Let the saints be joyful in glory… Let the high praises of God be in their mouth…”
— Psalm 149:1, 4–6

Psalm 149 is a powerful call to worship—a reminder that praise is more than a passing moment or a Sunday ritual. It’s a lifestyle. It’s our purpose. It’s what we were created for.

And it’s not just about music, either.
It’s about presence.
It’s about connection.
It’s about lifting our eyes and hearts to the One who gives us life.

Praise Is More Than a Feeling

C.S. Lewis once wrote:

“Just as a car is made to run on gas, God made us to run on Himself.”

God is powerful, sovereign, and holy—and He designed us to be filled by Him. Apart from Him, we have no energy, no direction, and no true fulfillment.

That’s why praise matters.

It’s not because God needs it.
It’s because we do.

Praise shifts our perspective. It changes our attitude. It opens the door to joy, peace, and healing. When we worship, we remember who He is—and in doing so, we also remember who we are.

Praise Strengthens Faith

Praise isn’t about manipulating God or convincing Him to act.
It’s about trusting Him even when the outcome is uncertain.

True praise says, “Lord, even if the situation doesn’t change, I believe You are still good.”

Sometimes the victory we long for will come in changed circumstances.
Sometimes, it will come in us—in the transformation of our hearts.

Either way, when we praise, we invite God into the very center of our lives. And that strengthens our faith more than anything else.

When Praise Feels Hard

Let’s be honest:
It’s easy to praise when everything is going well.
When our prayers are answered and our hearts are full, praise flows naturally.

But what about when we’re hurting?
Discouraged?
Depressed?

That’s when praise becomes a sacrifice.

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise…”
— Hebrews 13:15

Years ago, I heard a pastor preach about this. He asked, “If praise comes easily, where is the sacrifice?” That stayed with me.

There are moments when lifting our voices in praise feels like lifting the weight of the world.
But when we praise anyway—when we choose to glorify God in spite of the pain—that offering is precious to Him.

The Bible doesn’t command us to feel thankful. It tells us to be thankful.
Praise doesn’t deny the pain. It simply holds it alongside the truth that God is still worthy.

Praise as an Act of Surrender

Praise is an active agreement with God—an acknowledgment of who He is and who we are in light of Him. It’s not just emotional. It’s theological. It’s personal. It’s powerful.

“God is enthroned in the praises of His people.”
— Psalm 22:3

“Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You.”
— Psalm 84:4

When we praise, we step into alignment with heaven.
We quiet our striving.
We lift our eyes.
We remember the One who holds all things—and holds us.

Worship in Spirit and Truth

When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, He said:

“The time is coming—and now is—when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth… for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”
— John 4:23

Worship isn’t about location or performance.
It’s about relationship.
It’s about approaching the Father through the Son, with hearts made pure by the blood of Jesus.

We worship when we sing.
We worship when we sit in stillness.
We worship when we work, when we pray, when we choose gratitude, when we offer kindness, when we glorify God in even the smallest things.

Because worship is the soul’s response to encountering the living God.

This Is What We Were Made For

Praise and worship aren’t side notes in our faith.
They are central.
They bring purpose, power, unity, and peace.

When we praise, we are fulfilling the very reason we exist.
We’re doing what our souls were created to do.
And in that moment, we are most fully alive.

So today—wherever you are, however you feel—praise Him.

Sing aloud on your bed.
Dance in the living room.
Whisper thanks through tears.
Lift your hands in stillness or in song.
And know this:
God takes pleasure in His people.

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverb 18:24

A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they’re not so good, and sympathizes with your problems when they’re not so bad.
Arnold Glasgow 

Few delights can equal the mere prence of one whom we trust utterly – George MacDonald  

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting Robin
unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain. – Emily Dickinson

And my very favorite one of all time:    “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another,
What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”
C.S. Lewis

Be Thou My Vision Hymn

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Lynn has posted about a woman who has recently passed away in TN.  It’s well worth the read.  Here’s the link: http://graceindelible.blogspot.com/2008/05/dianne-odell-remarkable-life.html