Hollow Laughter
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful: and the end of that mirth is heaviness. Proverbs 14:13
Sometimes, fake laughter is easily identified. But often, we assume because someone is smiling on the outside, they are happy on the inside. We know that is not the case from personal experience. Whether it is a pile of bills overdue, terminal illness identified, strained relationships or discord with God, we have all experienced a heavy heart. David sums up the situation best in Psalms 69:19-20, "Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee. Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none."
We have all been there - alone. We feel that there is no one to listen, no one to care and no one to understand. But there is. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast our cares upon Him. Why? Because, He cares for you. Always. Not just when we have been saintly or nice, but he cares for us always. David leads us again, in Psalms 28:6-7: "Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him."
Quit a different song than before! Did David have failed temptations, evil opponents and secret enemies? You bet he did! But he knew how to make real laughter – by calling upon the Lord. I encourage you to follow David's prayer below:
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Psalms 51:10-13
When we have given Him our cares and renewed our relationship with Christ, people will not have to wonder if our laughter is hollow. For the glow of his love upon our countenance will erase any doubts. Join me in laughing at today's challenges by giving them to God.
Sometimes, fake laughter is easily identified. But often, we assume because someone is smiling on the outside, they are happy on the inside. We know that is not the case from personal experience. Whether it is a pile of bills overdue, terminal illness identified, strained relationships or discord with God, we have all experienced a heavy heart. David sums up the situation best in Psalms 69:19-20, "Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee. Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none."
We have all been there - alone. We feel that there is no one to listen, no one to care and no one to understand. But there is. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast our cares upon Him. Why? Because, He cares for you. Always. Not just when we have been saintly or nice, but he cares for us always. David leads us again, in Psalms 28:6-7: "Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him."
Quit a different song than before! Did David have failed temptations, evil opponents and secret enemies? You bet he did! But he knew how to make real laughter – by calling upon the Lord. I encourage you to follow David's prayer below:
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Psalms 51:10-13
When we have given Him our cares and renewed our relationship with Christ, people will not have to wonder if our laughter is hollow. For the glow of his love upon our countenance will erase any doubts. Join me in laughing at today's challenges by giving them to God.
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