Till He fill thy mouth with laughing

Job 8:21

Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

This is the gift that God has given mankind-laughter! That great treasure He has vouchsafed to humankind-rejoicing! This is what He has given everyone. Some don’t use the gift, but neglect it. But all that is needed is to find the cause for laughing. All that is needed is to remind oneself of the reasons for rejoicing. For this has been given to us for our good. Does He not say that a merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones? A merry heart is good! Just as a medicine is good! There are some who can find no treatment, no balm, and no salve for their wounds; they can find no relief from their pain, and no reprieve from chronic discomfort. But may I suggest? There is a remedy! There is a balm in Gilead! There is a physician! There is a medicine, a tonic for our sickness! And what is it? Laughter! What is it more than anything else? Rejoicing! Perhaps this is why our Lord has said, “Rejoice evermore.” Could it be that this is why the Word has enjoined us to “Rejoice in the Lord alway?” Because it is the greatest healer available! Rejoice in the Lord! Exult in the God of your salvation! Is there any reason to pine away when we have an ever-present Savior? Is there any reason to be dismal and sad when we have eternal life and hope in the One who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows? Weeping does endure for a night. But there is joy in the morning, my friend! Rejoice in Him! Laugh a little today.

My brother or sister, you may say to me that I am insensitive. You may say that I am hard, calloused, unconcerned with the needs of the hurting. This is far from true! The Word has told us that the greatest help for the sad is rejoicing. The greatest hope for the depressed in laughter. God wants to help you. He wants to make you sing again. He wants to evaporate some of the sorrow, and condense upon you His joy and laughter. But you must find it! Where is it found? In the precious Word of God, and in the remembrance of His holiness. Thinking of the Lord and His goodness, and faithfulness, and truth, will lift you to a higher plain of joy than you thought possible. Come out of the cavernous den of sadness, and step into the bright light of the Lord.

Beloved, you may be enduring great grief today. The Lord understands. The Lord knows. He cares and loves His own. One of the greatest ways that He will ever love you is by taking your weary hand and leading you out of the cave of grief, sorrow, and gloom, and bringing you into the light of His love and presence. Will you take His hand? Will you allow Him to lead you to laughter today? Will you allow Him to do a Physician’s work on you? After all, He is the great Physician. Does He not know best? Does He not know the greatest need of our hearts and souls? Oh! I pray that, by the grace of God, the Lord would fill your mouth with laughter today, and fill your lips with rejoicing!

“Father, there are many days that we see no prospect of joy, and no penetration of light into our dark day. But help us to know that you don’t desire that we would dwell there. There is a better, higher, and more excellent way. There is a place of joy to which you would lead us. There are moments of laughter to which you would bring us. But help us to see the reasons for joy, and the causes for laughter. It is all in you! It is all in your blessings, your peace, and your love. Oh, give us a special helping of this today by your grace! And we shall rejoice in Thee. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.”