Trusting God

Knock, Knock.

Who’s there?

Nobel.

Nobel who?

Nobel…that’s why I knocked!

I know, I know, that’s hilarious! I’ll give you a moment to catch your breath and wipe away the tears…

My husband is the king of bad jokes. Our kids have been rolling their eyes as long as they can remember. He was telling Dad jokes WAY before Dad jokes were even a thing and today is National Knock, Knock Jokes Day. No really, it’s a thing, look it up.

This got me thinking about laughter. The old saying that “laughter is good medicine” is so true. Have you ever just had a terrible day and something or someone made you laugh out loud until your sides hurt? I know it didn’t make all the bad go away but it certainly helped you feel better.

Proverbs 17:22 tells us that a merry heart does good like medicine.

Let’s take a look at the laughter of Sarah for moment.

We are told in Genesis that when God told Abraham that he would be a father at 100 and Sarah would become a mother at 90, they both laughed, wondering how in the world this could possibly happen. (Genesis 17:17, 18:12) When God preformed the miracle of Issac’s birth, Sarah laughed again and others laughed with her, this time the laughter was rejoicing at God’s miracle. (Genesis 21:1-7)

Did you know that Issac’s name literally means laughter?

Sarah was way beyond the age to have children. In those days, if a woman didn’t have children, she was nothing. Her worth as a woman was often associated with the ability to reproduce. Often times women suffered deep shame because their barrenness was attributed to some hidden wrong, sin, or flaw. God, however, had a plan. He allowed Sarah to be barren all those years in order to preform the miracle of Issac, which was the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham to make him a father of a great nation.

Today I want to encourage you no matter what circumstances you find yourself in, look up and laugh, rejoice knowing that God has a plan and your miracle is coming.

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:11-12

Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us that there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

Knock, Knock.

Who’s there?

Orange.

Orange who?

Orange you glad I’m not going to tell another joke?