She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
Proverbs 31:25
Laughter. Some say it's the best medicine. Others say it can add years to your life. Who doesn't love that deep, tear streaming, hand slapping, can't catch my breath laughter that can sometimes overtake us? We all have those moments, but they seem few. They don't happen enough. Why is that? What makes this kind of pure joy and laughter so hard to grasp? I've spent much time thinking about that this week.
I had a doctor's appointment this week for my six-month mammogram. In case you don't know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 years ago. The Lord brought me through and healed me, and I will forever Praise Him for not only healing me, but for the whole journey. I go every six months for a check up, and this week as I waited I thought a lot about this Proverbs 31:25 verse. My checkup was great - everything looks good. Whew! That word right there - whew - that wipe my forehead because thank goodness another six months is behind me is what I've spent time thinking about. Because what does that say about me? What did it boil down to that I had in my spirit? Fear. Yes, that conclusion struck me as a contradiction to what I believe God is trying to teach me.
The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind". Fear does not come from God. There are many, many verses that tell us this. Where does it come from? The enemy. Satan. Satan loves nothing more than for us to be distracted by our fears so that we lose our sight on God. Some would say how can we be full of laughter in today's times? I mean, really, we are living in a world where it's hard for people to decide what bathroom to use when God clearly chose this for us. We have a presidential candidate running for office that, from all evidence provided thus far, is responsible for the deaths of American citizens. We are living in a world where families are disintegrating before our eyes. Mothers against daughters and sons, sisters against sisters, brothers against brothers, husbands and wives against each other. And why? And more importantly, how can we laugh during times like these...laugh without fear of the consequences these types of behaviors are surely to bring?
Well, the short answer is because God says so. Psalm 126:2-3 says, "Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad". Now, don't get me wrong, I don't have this whole fear thing down. I worry when I'm not supposed to. I have anxiety about our country. I miss family members that choose not to be in my life. I grieve these things. Every. Single. Day. BUT...GOD! God says He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy (Job 8:21).
Let me explain to you the vision I have of the woman described in Proverbs 31:25. I see a woman who has a quiet strength about her. She may not look physically strong, or come across as loud and boisterous so you can hear that she's strong, but she's clothed, or dressed, or covered in a quiet strength; a strength that's found deep within her that might be hard to read and understand because it goes far beneath the surface of who she is outwardly. She maintains control and holds her head up high because she not only knows who she is, but whose she is. I see her as being a gentle spirit, but with a spirit of boldness when necessary; not being loud and boisterous, but bold and loving and kind. I see a woman who stands tall, not in arrogance but because her faith in her Savior is so embedded within her that she can carry on through this life and laugh without fear of what's to come. She knows God's plan is best for her, so she quietly puts on her armor and walks toward her future without fear.
This is the kind of woman I want to be. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I AM GOD". Now this doesn't mean to pull the cover over your head and give up in order to be still. It means carry on with life, but be still in your spirit because God is in control. Know it. Believe it. Feel it. Accept it. He is God and He's got this. Cast all your worries and cares on Him and laugh! Don't let the enemy hold you back or keep you from being who you are supposed to be.
So I am trying to make a conscious effort every day to choose joy..to choose laughter...to choose peace...to be kind and gentle and patient and loving and faithful and have self-control. I want the Holy Spirit to dwell in me so deeply and so strongly that I have no choice but to be full of laughter. So, no matter what's going on around you, how dark it seems, how ugly or inadequate you feel, remember you are an heir to the kingdom of God...so straighten up that crown, put some laughter in your heart and on your lips and walk on! Walk toward the destiny that God has planned for your life and laugh!!
