Time to Laugh
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The concept of a "time to laugh" is rooted in the biblical understanding of the seasons and rhythms of life, as articulated in the book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 states, "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." This passage highlights the cyclical nature of human experiences, emphasizing that laughter, like other emotions and actions, has its appointed time.

Laughter in the Bible is often associated with joy, celebration, and the fulfillment of God's promises. In Genesis 21:6 , Sarah declares, "God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me," upon the birth of her son Isaac. This laughter is a response to the miraculous and joyful fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. It signifies a moment of divine intervention and blessing, where laughter becomes an expression of gratitude and wonder.

The Psalms also reflect the theme of laughter as a response to God's deliverance and favor. Psalm 126:2 states, "Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy. Then it was said among the nations, 'The LORD has done great things for them.'" Here, laughter is a communal expression of joy and testimony to the surrounding nations of God's mighty works and faithfulness to His people.

In the New Testament, laughter is not as frequently mentioned, but joy and rejoicing are prevalent themes. Jesus, in His teachings, often spoke of the joy that comes from the Kingdom of God. In Luke 6:21 , He says, "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh." This promise of future laughter is tied to the eschatological hope and the reversal of present sufferings in the coming Kingdom.

While laughter is a natural and God-given response to joy, the Bible also cautions against frivolous or mocking laughter. Proverbs 14:13 warns, "Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow." This suggests that laughter, when detached from genuine joy or used inappropriately, can mask deeper issues or lead to negative outcomes.

In summary, the biblical perspective on a "time to laugh" acknowledges laughter as a significant and meaningful part of human experience, ordained by God within the broader tapestry of life's seasons. It is a gift that reflects joy, divine blessing, and the fulfillment of God's promises, while also serving as a reminder of the ultimate joy found in His eternal Kingdom.
Topical Bible Verses
Ecclesiastes 3:4
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
Topicalbible.org

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Topicalbible.org

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Topicalbible.org

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Topicalbible.org

Ecclesiastes 3:1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Topicalbible.org

Jeremiah 31:13
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
Topicalbible.org

Library

Chapter iii.
... 4. "A time to weep, and a time to laugh.". A time to weep, when it is the
time of suffering; as when the Lord also says, "Verily ...
//christianbookshelf.org/dionysius/the works of dionysius/chapter iii.htm

The Answer on the Nature of Things Good, Bad, and Indifferent.
... and a time to pull down what is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time
to destroy and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xii the answer on 2.htm

Concerning that Most Unhappy Time in which He, Being Deceived ...
... Chapter I."Concerning that Most Unhappy Time in Which He, Being Deceived, Deceived
Others ... yet savingly cast down and stricken by Thee, O my God, laugh at me ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter i concerning that most unhappy.htm

St. Peter of Alcantara Comforts the Saint. Great Temptations and ...
... And so it is with me occasionally"and, indeed, very often. At one time, I
laugh at myself; and at another, I am very much distressed. ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter xxx st peter of.htm

Modern Revivals.
... the young, even if they are members, and sometimes older ones, go to these churches
as to places of amusement, to have a good time, to laugh, to whisper, to ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter xxiv modern revivals.htm

Appendix: Polemical Fragments
... Faith embraces many truths which seem to contradict each other. There is a time
to laugh, and time to weep, etc. Responde. Ne respondeas, [215] etc. ...
/.../pascal/pensees/section xiv appendix polemical fragments.htm

Hebrews ix. 5-Jan
... Laughter has been implanted in us, that when we see our friends after a long time,
we may laugh; that when we see any persons downcast and fearful, we may ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xv hebrews ix 5-jan.htm

What is More, Let Anyone Laugh and Taunt if He So Wishes. ...
... What is more, let anyone laugh and taunt if he so wishes ... the Lord many years before
they happened, [he] who knew everything, even before the beginning of time. ...
/.../patrick/the confession of st patrick/section 45 what is more.htm

But Why do I Laugh at the Sickles and Tridents which have Been ...
... But why do I laugh at the sickles and tridents which have been given to the gods ...
All the artists, therefore, who lived at that time, and to whom truth gave the ...
/.../arnobius/the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/13 but why do i.htm

Second Sunday after Epiphany
... be seasonable, in keeping with Solomon's words (Ecclesiastes 3, 3-4): "A time to
break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh," etc. ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/second sunday after epiphany.htm

Resources
Will we experience time in heaven? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of “redeeming the time” in Ephesians 5:16? | GotQuestions.org

What time was Jesus crucified? What time did Jesus die on the cross? | GotQuestions.org

Time: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Time

Time for Friends

Time for War

Time Given To Religion

Time in Prophetic Language, Means a Prophetic Year, or 360 Natural

Time Management

Time to Die

Time to Laugh

Time to Plant

Time With God

Time: All Events of, Predetermined by God

Time: All God's Purposes Fulfilled in Due Time

Time: An Appointed Season

Time: Beginning of

Time: Computed by Days

Time: Computed by Hours, After the Captivity

Time: Computed by Months

Time: Computed by Weeks

Time: Computed by Years

Time: Daniel's Reckoning of Time, and Times, and Half Times

Time: Division of, Into Watches

Time: End of

Time: Epochs of Before the Flood

Time: Eras from Which, Computed: Accession of Kings

Time: Eras from Which, Computed: Building of the Temple

Time: Eras from Which, Computed: Nativity of the Patriarchs During the Patriarchal Age

Time: Eras from Which, Computed: The Captivity

Time: Eras from Which, Computed: The Exodus from Egypt

Time: Eras from Which, Computed: The Jubilee

Time: Fullness of

Time: Indicated by a Sun-Dial

Time: Moments

Time: One Day is Like One-Thousand Years

Time: Part of a Period of, Usually Counted As the Whole

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Accepted Time

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Ancient Time

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Evil Time

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Healing

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Need

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Reformation

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Refreshing

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Restitution of all Things

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Temptation

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Trouble

Time: Particular Periods of, Mentioned: The Time of Visitation

Time: Shortness of Man's Portion of

Time: should be Redeemed

Time: should be Spent in Fear of God

Time: The Duration of the World

Time: The Exodus

Time: The Heavenly Bodies, Appointed As a Means for Computing

Time: The Measure of the Continuance of Anything

Time: The Sun-Dial Early Invented for Pointing Out

Related Terms

Time (7245 Occurrences)

Life-time (12 Occurrences)

Day-time (11 Occurrences)

Even-time (4 Occurrences)

Vintage-time (3 Occurrences)

First-time (1 Occurrence)

Evening-time (2 Occurrences)

Before-time (1 Occurrence)

Dinner-time (1 Occurrence)

Ploughing-time (1 Occurrence)

Seed-time (1 Occurrence)

Sowing-time (1 Occurrence)

Supper-time (1 Occurrence)

Meal-time (1 Occurrence)

Visitation (17 Occurrences)

Zoan (7 Occurrences)

Sanballat (10 Occurrences)

Scripture (51 Occurrences)

Sometime (5 Occurrences)

Supporter (6 Occurrences)

Since (1200 Occurrences)

Korahites (7 Occurrences)

Shallum (27 Occurrences)

Stork (6 Occurrences)

Zephaniah (11 Occurrences)

Slow (43 Occurrences)

Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences)

Zacharias (11 Occurrences)

Kissing (10 Occurrences)

Kore (4 Occurrences)

Sheshbazzar (4 Occurrences)

Salutation (6 Occurrences)

Sew (4 Occurrences)

Stitching (4 Occurrences)

Skip (8 Occurrences)

Shun (14 Occurrences)

Slayer (23 Occurrences)

Kills (38 Occurrences)

Spend (54 Occurrences)

Sabbatical (1 Occurrence)

Spent (76 Occurrences)

Vexation (36 Occurrences)

Year (4027 Occurrences)

Snow (25 Occurrences)

Sleep (136 Occurrences)

Short (128 Occurrences)

Sarah (38 Occurrences)

Areopagus (3 Occurrences)

Sanhedrin (19 Occurrences)

Zebulun (46 Occurrences)

Zedekiah (63 Occurrences)

Vine-growers (13 Occurrences)

Seer (21 Occurrences)

Kingdoms (65 Occurrences)

Kenites (8 Occurrences)

Knewest (11 Occurrences)

Kadesh (30 Occurrences)

Knives (12 Occurrences)

Asahel (17 Occurrences)

Arrive (20 Occurrences)

Ashdod (21 Occurrences)

Strangers (95 Occurrences)

Soon (636 Occurrences)

Sackbut (4 Occurrences)

Shape (17 Occurrences)

Showers (20 Occurrences)

Shephatiah (13 Occurrences)

Swiftly (15 Occurrences)

Spell (2 Occurrences)

Spending (7 Occurrences)

Salchah (1 Occurrence)

Sambuca (4 Occurrences)

Salcah (4 Occurrences)

Salecah (4 Occurrences)

Shelemiah (10 Occurrences)

Single (65 Occurrences)

Season (101 Occurrences)

Sela (5 Occurrences)

Time to Kill and a Time to Heal
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