Have you had a good laugh today?

“He who has a glad heart has a continual feast (regardless of his circumstances).”

— Proverbs 15:15 (AMP)

Have you had a good laugh today? Maybe the gloomy, gray skies have got you down. Or maybe life is making your heart feel heavy. There are times I struggle with that, too. That’s why I’ve asked God, “Teach me to laugh in the midst of my misery.”

Laughter is produced from a heart that is overflowing with joy. God placed joy — a fruit of the Spirit — in every believer. But it’s up to us to cultivate it. How do we do that?

In ancient times, men of war stopped up the wells of their enemies by filling them with rocks and dirt so no water could flow through them. When Abraham’s enemy, the Philistines, blocked up his well, Abraham used his son, Isaac — whose name means laughter — to open the well back up. I believe God gave us this example to show us the gift of laughter.

When the wells of our hearts are filled with sorrow, depression and pain, it blocks our flow of laughter. Laughter is one way to take charge of our hearts and fill it with cheer.

Watching a funny movie or fun time with friends can bring us joy. Sitting by the window on a sunny day can help combat depression caused by seasonal affective disorder, a medical condition that hits many of us midwinter.

As we learn to laugh, stay mindful of following biblical guidelines for no “obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking,” as mentioned in Ephesians 5:4. Making another person the brunt of jokes, spewing crude remarks, or spouting obscenities are not considered laughing matters to God.

Although laughter is good, it’s not realistic that we should laugh about everything; but a good chuckle should be part of our daily lives.

Being joyful in life’s journey doesn’t mean the absence of problems; rather, practicing God’s principles in the presence of them.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author of the book “Letters To A Friend,” speaker, life and writing coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com.