Laughter or Medicine
Why A Cure Is Better Than Medicine!
You’ve heard it said that laughter does good like a medicine. And while it’s true that laughter does good for us, it’s better than a mere medicine. Traditionally, a medicine is taken as a way to fight off ailements temporarily. A cure, however, aims to dissolve the sickness completely.
The Power of Our Words
Proverbs 17:22 says that, “a happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” The word medicine is actually a mistranslation. The Hebrew word used is gêhâh, which means a cure. You may say, “Okay, so what’s the big deal?” It means that laughter doesn’t merely stave off what bothers you temporarily, but it actually will eradicate the issue altogether; this is really good news!
This is in contrast to Galatians 5:19–20 where it lists witchcraft as a work of the flesh. The word for witchcraft is pharmakeia which is where we get the word pharmacy from. It literally means “the use or the administering of drugs.” So when we say that laughter is better than a medicine, we’re also saying it’s better than witchcraft! This is why it is so important that we understand the words we’re using regarding scriptural truth.
Biological Benefits of Laughing
So now that we know laughter is meant to heal and not to manipulate let’s look at the health benefits we can gain from it. Dr. Lee Berk of Loma Linda University has studied the effects of laughter on the body. His research shows that laughter can improve your health. It helps to reduce stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenalin, and increases immune system activity by increasing interferon, T cells and white blood cells. Laughing can also boost your heart rate, improve blood flow, and stabilize blood pressure.
So instead of grabbing the ice cream scoop or the nearest bag of snacks when you’re feeling stressed try putting on a comedy and sip on a healthy drink. Here are some examples to get you started: coconut water, kombucha or iced matcha lemonade (green tea powder + lemonade). The combination of laughter and a healthy beverage will do wonders for your body to reduce stress levels and leave you feeling fantastic!
Joyful Strength
“And do not be worried, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and your stronghold.” Nehemiah 8:10b The Joy of The Lord is our strength and safe place! The word used for stronghold is mâ‘ôwz which means a fortified place. We can have confidence that as long as we keep our joy rooted in The Lord we will always be safe from the trials that come against us.
The operative phrase is that we will be safe, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be targeted. Our partaking of the Joy of The Lord is percisely the reason that we will be targeted! Don’t let that cause you alarm or fear because Jesus told us in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]”
Intentional Joy
To recap, we know that testings and trials will come and our response for those will be courageous and confident joy! Be intentional about finding joy in every circumstance. Don’t fall into the easy trap of temporary satisfactions such as binging on junk foods; take some will power and grab a healthy alternative. Make it a regular point to find something funny to watch or go with some friends to a comedy club. Lastly, be sure to pass on joy and laughter to someone else because chances are that they’re in need of it but have difficulty admitting and asking for it.
