The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. [Psalm 145:14 (NLT)]
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. [Psalm 146:8 (NLT)]
Three days ago, I published a devotion titled “Let the Healing Begin.” Immediately after its posting, I got an email from a friend who is recovering from painful knee surgery. “How timely,” he wrote. “Yesterday, while attempting to bend/kneel down and hook up the hose to vacuum my pool, my surgical knee gave out – and in an attempt to keep from falling in the pool, I pulled/tore the hamstring in the opposite leg. Laying on my back by the pool I thought, ‘Well, at least I didn’t break an arm or bang my head!’” He added, “The good news: my hamstring hurts more than the surgical knee so, I have kinda forgotten about the knee pain! It’s all relative! :-)” In spite of my concern for him, I laughed at his funny narrative. I then said a quick prayer for my hurting friend and thanked God for His precious gift of humor and laughter.
There are some people who question whether God has a sense of humor and laughs. I have no doubt that our funny bone comes from Him. Since we are made in God’s image, it is logical to believe that if we have a sense of humor, so does 
He; if we can laugh, He does, too. Anyone who’s heard a child’s laughter knows that delightful sound could only come from a loving God. Moreover, to make sure we always have something about which to laugh, He gave us creatures like the wildebeest and ostrich. Seeing those remarkable animals, however, isn’t necessary for laughter once we take a good look at our own lives and the various pickles in which we find ourselves. I, for one, frequently find myself in pickle juice so there is often a reason to laugh!
God is the one who lifts us out of despair and gloom and he often does that with laughter. A God-given sense of humor, however, never laughs at the expense of others; it’s not sarcastic or mocking nor is it crude, crass or cruel. A sense of humor gives us the ability to see, appreciate and express what is funny or amusing about a situation, especially when it’s our own. God’s gift of humor is necessary for survival because, without some laughter at our human predicaments, all that is left is tears.
In responding to my friend, I thought of the “big three” that Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 13:13: faith, hope and love. While reminding him to keep his sense of humor, I suggested that we all need to add a fourth item to that list of attributes of Christian life: laughter. Of course, I also made the recommendation that he consider hiring a good pool man in the future!
A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It’s jolted by every pebble on the road. [Henry Ward Beecher]
Devotions of the Heart 