“A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
- Proverbs 17:22
They say laughter is the best medicine. Both the Bible and the doctors agree with this. Some try to be cheerful despite of their problems which I believe is a good thing. Having this kind of attitude does bring good healing. But you need to have a firm reason as to why you should be cheerful. Some are just trying to be happy but feels the opposite deep inside. I don't think faking your cheerfulness gives perfect health. I saw a lot of comedians who seems so joyful but still end up sick and some died young. They might not be truly happy deep inside cause if they do, they would have lived a healthy and long life. The Bible says that at laughter a heart may still ache. You can be depressed but pretend to be happy. True cheerfulness is from the inside out.
Today, I want to tackle the life story of Abraham and his wife Sarah. How at their old age they were still able to have a son and how this is related to the area of cheerfulness.
Abraham has three contenders for his inheritance. Here are their names and their corresponding meanings in the Hebrew language:
Eliezer - God will help.
Ishmael - God will hear.
Isaac - Laughter.
Guess who received the inheritance of Abraham? As we all know, it is Isaac, Abraham's son with Sarah. He is the one who received all of Abraham's possessions. Have you noticed that the meaning of Isaac's name is laughter? We can say that "laughter" received Abrahams's abundance.
Long before Isaac was born, Abraham's first choice as his heir was Eliezer. He even had a conversation with God where he wants him to acknowledge Eliezer as his possessor, for he had lost all hope of having a child because of his and his wife's old age. Eliezer means God will help. We can see that Abraham's recommendation of Eliezer as his heir to God was his way of saying "God! Help Me!" Yet, God did not select Eliezer as his heir.
When Ishmael was born, the same scenario happened again between God and Abraham. This time he wants him to acknowledge Ishmael as his heir. Ishmael means God will hear. This time, Abraham is trying to say to God, "Oh God hear me please!" or "God, do you hear my prayers? But once again, God did not approved Abraham's plea.
Then, when Abraham was 99 years old, God visited him and told him that the following year his wife Sarah would bear a child. Abraham's response to God was "LOL!" If there were emojis at that time Abraham might have used the most hilarious one. Sarah also responded in this manner when she heard about this news.
Now, some see their response as unbelief to what God has promised them. For after laughing, both Abraham and Sarah said "How can this happen when we are so old and Sarah's womb is already dead? Some say that they actually believed God and their laughter was a sign of rejoicing. Both sides do have their point, but it actually doesn't matter whether they believed God or not.
God's very goal at that time is to make them see in their minds that they would still be able to have a child. I believe God accomplished his goal perfectly. For Abraham and Sarah wouldn't laugh so hard if they have not pictured it on their minds. They clearly saw themselves having a child and they find it so funny making them burst into laughter. They maybe imagined Sarah as having a baby lump or breastfeeding a child though being very old.
Then, as they were laughing the joy that they felt that time provided the healing for Sarah's womb as well as rejuvenation of youthfulness for the both of them. God made them laugh in order to heal their infirmities. And so they were still able to produce a son naming him Isaac, which means laughter. For he was conceived out of laughter.
Now, when we approach God desiring to receive something from him, we should approach him with joy in our hearts. Some approach him the "Eliezer style," begging and pleading God for help. Some do the "Ishmael method," praying so loud and desperate for God to hear and answer them. But we must approach him the "Isaac way," filled with joy, thanksgiving and rejoicing.
How can we approach God with joy in our hearts? Like Abraham and Sarah, you need to see yourself receiving what God has promised. You need to see that your every need has already been provided by God through the finished work of Christ. See that every wounds that Jesus' received provided the healing for your sickness. See that Jesus became poor for you to become rich. See that you are already righteous in God's sight because Jesus bore all of your sins. As you see yourself the way God sees you, joy will fill your heart. And you will receive the healing that you need whether physically, emotionally or financially.
