Laughter God’s Medicine
Have you ever wondered how important laughter is to our psyche as a whole or how important laughter is to God? Did you know God incorporated laughter into our lives as a healthy outlet and benefit?
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 17:22 “a cheerful heart is good medicine”. (New Living Translation Bible, 1996). In The Amplified Bible (1965), Proverbs 17:22 states it this way “A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing.”
How important is it for us to laugh? The medical community makes a strong case for laughter as medicine. An article written by Robinson L. et al. (2021) states laughter:
draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress.
Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner. (para. 1).
The medical community agrees with scripture, laughter heals. It can bring strength to the immune system and stress relief (Robinson L. et al., 2021). After you quit laughing the body continues to recognize the upbeat and positive moment you had for a length of time which brings calm and restoration to the body (Robinson L. et al., 2021).
People take pharmaceutical medications for health benefits. Have you ever tried adding laughter as a medicine? Does laughter work like a medicine? Laughter does work like medicine (Robinson L. et al., 2021). Here are a few healthy benefits:
“Physical health benefits
Boosts immunity
Lowers stress hormones
Decreases pain
Relaxes your muscles
Prevents heart disease
Mental health benefits
Adds joy and zest to life
Eases anxiety and tension
Relieves stress
Improves mood
Strengthens resilience” (Robinson L. et al., 2021, para. 11).
Schiffman, R. (2020) states:
Humor is not just a distraction from the grim reality of the crisis, said Dr. Michael Miller, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. It’s a winning strategy to stay healthy in the face of it. Heightened stress magnifies the risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, Dr. Miller said. Having a good sense of humor is an excellent way to relieve stress and anxiety and bring back a sense of normalcy during these turbulent times. Laughter releases nitric oxide, a chemical that relaxes blood vessels, reduces blood pressure and decreases clotting, Dr. Miller said. An epidemiological study of older men and women in Japan confirmed that those who tend to laugh more have a lower risk of major cardiovascular illness. (para. 2-4).
Robinson L., et al. (2021) states “A Georgia State University study found that incorporating bouts of simulated laughter into an exercise program helped improve older adults’ mental health as well as their aerobic endurance. Plus, hearing others laugh, even for no apparent reason, can often trigger genuine laughter.”
Is laughter good medicine? You bet it is!
Did you know laughter is an attribute of God? The New King James Version Bible (1982) declares God laughs. Psalms 37:13 says, “The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming” (The New King James Version Bible, 1982). Psalms 59:8 says, “But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision” (The New King James Version Bible, 1982). There are many more scriptures that show us God’s ability to laugh at situations.
When the chips are down and things are not going very well, we have a weapon called laughter. I wish I had many more laughable moments throughout my day, don’t you? However, becasue there is not simulated laughter is something I incorporated into my life. What is Simulated laughter? It is laughing you initiate at will. It is self-induced and does not have to be triggered by seeing or hearing something funny. This type of laughter is laughing without experiencing something fun (Robinson L., 2021). One great benefit of simulated laughter is it produces the same health results as actual laughing when something is funny (Robinson L., 2021). The body does not recognize the difference between the two (Robinson L., 2021). It only recognizes laughter.
Let’s learn to laugh daily because “A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing” (The Amplified Bible, 1965).
References
New Living Translation Bible. (1996). New Living Translation Online.
https://www.biblegateway.com/
Robinson L., Smith, M., and Segal, J. (2021). Laughter is the Best Medicine. HelpGuide. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/laughter-is-the-best-medicine.htm
Schiffman, R. (2020). Laughter may be effective medicine for these trying times. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/well/mind/laughter-may-be-effective-medicine-for-these-trying-times.html
The Amplified Bible. (1965). The Amplified Bible Online. https://www.biblegateway.com/
The New King James Version Bible. (1982). The Amplified Bible Online. https://www.biblegateway.com/