Thou Shalt Not Take Thyself Too Seriously

    If you’ve been walking with Jesus for more than 15 minutes, you’ve probably done something silly in the name of faith. Like praying out loud in a group and accidentally thanking God for “this pizza and the resurrection” in the same breath. Or calling someone “brother” and immediately forgetting their name. Or saying “bless you” in a public restroom and then pretending it was a sneeze. 

The thing is, life with God is holy, but it’s also hilarious because God made humans, and humans are hilarious. 

We’re the only species that can confidently quote Scripture one minute and then lose the phone we were texting from the next. God made us from dust, and sometimes it really shows. 

Okay, theologians love to point out that the Bible never technically says “Jesus laughed.” But let’s be real—He had to. He turned water into wine at a wedding. He told stories about specks in eyes, healed someone with spit, and talked about camels squeezing through needles. He hung out with loud fishermen, skeptical siblings, and at least one tax collector named Matthew, who definitely looked like he didn’t get invited to stuff. 

Jesus laughed because laughter is part of love. 

And God didn’t just create laughter as a human reflex. He made it as a divine relief. A release. A reminder that even when we don’t have it all together, we can still be held together by joy. 

Laughter is a weapon. 

Have you ever laughed so hard that you forgot what you were worrying about? That’s what laughter does. It disarms stress. It dismantles fear. It tickles your soul until your anxiety forgets why it showed up. 

The enemy wants you to live seriously, stiffly, and scared. But God says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10). In other words, your laughter is a sign of spiritual strength. 

When the devil comes whispering lies like: “You’re not good enough, or “You’re too broken,” or “God can’t use someone like you,” I recommend hitting back with a belly laugh and a Scripture. 

Something like, “Haha! Joke’s on you, Satan. God used a talking donkey, and I’m at least smarter than a donkey, most of the time.” 

You don’t have to be perfect to be joyful. Just be present in the moment, with people, and with God, even when you’re a hot mess with coffee stains and mismatched socks. 

So, stop trying to curate your life like a Pinterest board. God’s not impressed with your filter game. He’s not looking for picture-perfect saints. He’s looking for laughing, limping, joy-chasing believers who know how to fall and say, “Well, that was awkward. Thank You, Lord, for loving me anyway.” 

If you want a lighter life, start laughing sooner. Laugh at yourself before someone else does. Laugh with people, not at them. Laugh with God like you’re a child again and He’s the best Dad in the world, because He is.