Finding Humor in Hard Times

Proverbs 17:22 – “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

There was a season in our life when we were walking through deep pain. After struggling with infertility, my wife and I faced failed adoption attempts—doors that slammed shut just when we thought we were finally going to become parents.

One day, after another painful “no,” we sat on the couch in exhausted silence.

Then, in the middle of our grief, my wife looked at me and deadpanned, “Well, at least we saved on diapers.” We both burst out laughing. It wasn’t dismissive; it was healing.

That laughter didn’t erase the pain—but it helped us breathe. It reminded us that even in sorrow, joy can slip in through the cracks. God gives us humor as a grace, a pressure valve when life feels too heavy to carry.

Humor doesn't mean denial. It means we recognize pain, but we also recognize God’s ability to carry us through it. A cheerful heart doesn’t deny the storm—it finds shelter in God’s presence and still manages to smile.

We did eventually have three biological children, but the humor we needed for the painful moments before having children changed our hearts and minds about the whole situation. Even in tough situations joy and laughter can be found if we pay attention.

Ask Yourself:

1. When was the last time you let yourself laugh in a hard season?

2. Do you give yourself permission to enjoy small joys even in grief?

3. How could humor be a tool for healing in your relationships?

   
   

Prayer: God, thank you for the gift of laughter. Help me to see joy in the middle of difficulty and receive your healing through cheerful moments. Amen.