阅读经文 

笑不一定都是解忧的良药。有时，笑是对伤痛的嘲笑，这是一种鄙视和嘲弄的笑。患难中遭人嘲笑不是一件有趣的事。

然而，与好朋友一起欢笑真的能够解忧。这是一种在庆典中发出的欢笑：是由衷赞叹的、兴趣盎然的和满怀欣喜的欢笑。

在两个不同的场合，神反复向年纪老迈的撒拉和亚伯拉罕宣告他们将会生一个孩子之后，我们听到他们对此笑起来。在《创世记》十七章，我们看到亚伯拉罕喜笑；在后面的那一章，我们看到撒拉也在暗笑。这是一种好奇和惊讶，并且夹杂着一点点不相信的笑声。他们并不是在嘲笑神，他们乃是在嘲笑一个似乎不合情理的计划。尽管神对他们向来都是信实的，但他们仍不大相信神真的会做不合情理的事。然而，一年之后，神应许赐给他们的孩子终于出生了，他们给他起名叫以撒，意思是“喜笑”。（参创 21:1-7）他们怀疑的笑声变为庆祝和赞美的欢笑。

今天，你在什么事上看到神令人惊讶的作为呢？想像一下，这样的事得以实现，能带给你周围的人多么大的喜乐和欢庆啊。

Not all laughter is good medicine. There is a kind of laughter that mocks and wounds. It's the laughter of disdain and derision. Being laughed at is no fun.

However, laughing alongside good friends can bring healing. This is a kind of joyful laughter that accompanies celebrations: the laughter of wonder, amusement, and amazement.

On two different occasions, we read of laughter breaking out after God's announcement that a child would be born to aged Sarah and Abraham. In Genesis 17, we read that Abraham laughs, and in the next chapter Sarah laughs too. This was a laughter of astonishment and amazement mingled with a hint of disbelief. They weren't necessarily laughing at God, but more at a plan that seemed so implausible. God had been faithful to them, but they weren't quite sure they believed God would do the impossible. But then the child of promise was eventually born the next year, and they named him Isaac, meaning "laughter" (Genesis 21:1-7). Their laughter of doubt was transformed into a laughter of celebration and praise.

Where do you see God at work in astonishing ways today? Consider how this can bring a sense of joy and celebration to people around you.