She can laugh at the days to come. (Proverbs 31:25)
When I started writing this blog, there were three unemployed people living in my house—me, my husband, and our twenty-three-year-old son. Doesn’t sound like a recipe for laughter, does it?
But God has shown me that this is precisely the time when laughter is most important. I can laugh at the days to come because Jesus is with me.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m not putting pressure on myself—or you—to be the Proverbs 31 woman. That particular proverb represents an ideal woman; it was originally a list of attributes for young men to consider as they looked for a wife.
It’s not a description of one amazing woman who broke the mold back in biblical times, so say “Whew” with me and pass me a piece of your chocolate bar. No, I’m not superwoman. And either are you. But God has shown me that I can live out verse 25. And so can you.
In my mind, a woman who can laugh at the days to come doesn’t sweat what the future may bring, because she trusts that Jesus Christ has her back. She knows that Jesus is interceding, supporting, loving, and comforting her; she realizes that Christ can provide for her in every way possible.
This mind-set sounds easy enough to manage when life is rolling smoothly along.
But then your son becomes addicted to drugs and eventually dies. Your daughter joins a cult. You and your husband lose your jobs in the same week. And finally, a loved one sends you an email with the definitions of the words queer and transman, which is a good thing since you have no clue what those words mean.
I’ve faced all this and more during a recent two-year period, so I’ve had some time to consider just how much I trust Jesus. Thankfully, I experienced a soul-rocking crisis earlier in my life, so this time I knew the best way to handle the storms.
I hang on tightly to Jesus’ robe, even when doubt tries to loosen my grip on His garment. I pour out my heart to Him—all the sorrow, confusion, anger—and He accepts it and gives me peace, understanding, and comfort. When I think there’s no hope, Jesus says, “Hope in me alone.” And I do.
Of course I’m not the only one dealing with tough stuff. Right now I have a friend undergoing chemotherapy, one dealing with chronic pain, and yet another who was hurt in a major way by members of her church.
These friends are great women of faith: the one with cancer feels God’s peace and praises Him; the one with chronic pain still holds tightly to her faith, sends cards to others to encourage them, and gives generously to those in need; the one betrayed by believers has supported me in prayer for the last fourteen months as I faced one loss and trial after another.
Like me, these women aren’t perfect, but they don’t have to be! They’ve learned they can “laugh at the days to come” simply because God is Emmanuel—God is with us, always.
So enjoy the laughter that comes from total freedom—the freedom of being held by our Father, whose love is everlasting and ever-present. You, too, can be a woman who laughs at the days to come even as you walk through the tough stuff of life. You can be this woman if you allow Jesus to lead and carry you.
Frankly, Jesus has the tough job in this carrying deal (especially since I gained an extra ten pounds).
Are you ready to laugh with the Lord? I am!
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:2-3
Julie Holmquist 