I was listening to a Catalyst podcast yesterday, and the host made a comment that struck me. He had seen a well-known Christian leader on television offering a prayer, and he shared that something in the prayer made him laugh out loud. He virtually apologized for laughing. He went on to say that he rarely ever laughs during a prayer, recognizing that communication with God is a sacred experience.
Now, I certainly agree that prayer should be a sacred experience, but I must confess that I often laugh aloud during prayer with others. God obviously has a sense of humor, and I think that he likes for us to share in it. Routinely my family and I will burst out in laughter during family prayers. We get tickled when we share with God something punny, absurd, frustrating or delightful. He can be in on our jokes. It draws us closer to his heart.
We don’t laugh at each other, mind you. We laugh together.
Often our worship team will laugh together in prayer as we prepare to lead worship. Part of the fruit of the Spirit is joy, and what better way to express it than good-hearted laughter? Our small group has been known to laugh aloud as we share our burdens and excitements with Jesus.
I expect that Jesus often laughed as he spent time with his Father. He is fun to be with. Good parents enjoy laughing with their children.
