This is what I compiled recently for our women's group's meeting on "Encouragement".  Several ladies wrote up some things to help encourage other women and a booklet was made with them.  It was a great idea!

The Gift of Laughter

“She can laugh at the days to come…”  Proverbs 31:25 NIV

Five years ago, I could not remember the last time I had laughed.  I know I had gone months without hardly even smiling.

I had reached the end of what I had always considered my “strong spiritual roots” due to a severe financial setback in our home that we had not seen coming.  I was suffering from controlling, paralyzing fear over circumstances beyond my control.

But the Lord was teaching me some deeper things that I could never have learned without the trials we were in the midst of.  He wanted me fully willing to “surrender all” and “be content” in whatever circumstances came my way.  I cannot point to one defining moment because it was a process the Lord was walking me through, but a while later, after many dark nights, I was finally able to thank Him for taking my control away from me, because I had learned to hand it over to Him!  I could thank Him for helping me to be content in my circumstances because I had learned He was always there in the midst ~ in control.  I could finally see that I had no reason to fear because He had always been my Provider, my Peace, my Comforter, even when I had not been so sure of it.  I knew that He was truly all I needed.

It was finally getting from my head to my heart.  I was learning to trust.  It was taking a while, but I was learning, and am still in the process.

While still in the midst of many of our financial trials, I began to notice that I was laughing again.  I wrote this in my journal:

"Thank You for laughter ~ the gift of laughter.  A gift is never more appreciated than when it is gone.  You have given it back to me and I worship Your awesome name for such an incredible, beautiful gift.  Your love for me is revealed to me every time I am able to hear myself laugh again."

Father, I pray that my spiritual sisters who may be hurting or fearful or weary of their journey today may be filled with joy in Your presence.  And I also pray that laughter may be part of their daily lives as they lay their worries at Your feet and gaze upon You.  Help each of us to approach each day as it comes with the beauty of laughter…because You are in total control of all of our days.  And help us to realize each time we laugh that it is a gift from You. 

“She can laugh at the days to come…” 

Thank you, Jesus, for returning laughter to my life.