A time to laugh, a time a dance, a time to rebuild.

I have been thinking and praying about what I should write about next. I keep feeling like this blog has somehow become heavy truths. I keep bringing heavy subjects to this writing and we need to lighten it up a bit. So this morning I have spent time researching laughter and joy in the Bible. This study took me to Ecclesiastes 3's discussion of there is a time for everything. And yes there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.

But wait, I then went on a rabbit trail of asking myself, why did the author write this? What was his motivation? As I read the chapters before and after this passage to find context, it appears to me the author has lived a life of striving and working for all the things this world has to offer and after much chasing of the things of this world, he discovered it was all in vain as if chasing the wind. True joy and fulfillment wasn't found in having all the things of this world, but true joy and contentment in this world comes from resting in God's love and presence. Verse 22 says "So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot." Finding joy in your work no matter what you have been asked to do, always finding the joy is where where we find God's intentions for our life.

There are many places in the Bible that speak of God rejoicing over us and us having joy in this life.

John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

1 Chronicles 16:27 Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place.

Proverbs 8:30-31

Then I was beside Him, as a master workman;

And I was daily His delight,

Rejoicing always before Him,

Rejoicing in the world, His earth,

And having my delight in the sons of men.

Jeremiah 32:4 I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/God,-Joy-Of

So when the author of Ecclesiastes reminds us there is a season for everything:

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every (a)event under heaven—

A time to give birth and a time to die;

A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

A time to kill and a time to heal;

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to weep and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn and a time to dance.

A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

A time to search and a time to give up as lost;

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;

A time to be silent and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate;

A time for war and a time for peace.

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ecclesiastes/3/type/nasb

It is to remind us there is a time to work, and build up and plant and reap. There is a time to even do the work of tearing down but what if we do this work with the joy of the Lord in our hearts. What if the time to uproot what is planted is the same time to dance. What if the time to tear apart is the same time to laugh. What if we chose to find the joy in the work that needs to be done? How much more enjoyment will we have in these times instead of being stressed if we heeded verses lesson,  "So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot." We as a family have a list of projects already laid out for the summer. There are some major life events happening this summer that we are excited about but these life events will take work. A lot of work, I was starting to get a bit discouraged that it was going to be a summer of all work and no play. No time for camping trips and probably not many days spent at the beach are seen in our summer plans. However what if we approach these projects with joy that we are allowed to do them, and work at them as if working for the Lord not man. If we laugh as we tear apart the things that need tore down. If we sing and dance while we build back up. We don't have to be at a comedy bar to laugh, we can laugh and find joy in our work together as a family.

Studying laughter and joy in the Bible makes me think of the story of Jesus walking on the water to the disciples who were in a boat in a horrible storm in the middle of the sea. Mark 6:48 says "He intended to pass by them." Now I have heard several deep theological reasons why Jesus intended to pass by them on foot as they struggled to row. But when I read this I just see Jesus pulling a joke on His boys, internally chuckling as He wanders past them on foot. I see Jesus finding a little joy in a moment but as soon as He saw they were terrified He stopped the joke and said "take courage it is I do not be afraid."

Please remember, God created joy and He intended us to experience it, He has given examples in the Bible of Him finding enjoyment in moments as well. God intends for us to have enjoyment, to laugh, to rejoice, to dance, and sing and enjoy this life He has given us. If you don't agree with my theology that Jesus was pulling a joke on His boys as He intended to walk past the disciples rowing, then go look up the talking donkey in Numbers 22. God had the donkey speak to Balaam. That is a story that always makes me chuckle. God will use whatever He wants to get us to listen, and maybe bring a little joy in the process.

So whatever your days bring, whatever job you have to do today. Weather its a job you enjoy or loath find a way to bring a little joy to it, bring a few jokes to tell your coworkers, wear the funny hat or t-shirt that will bring up silly joyous conversations. This is something I definitely need to work on myself. I tend to get overwhelmed and stressed out at the list of tasks that must be completed but I will try to bring joy with me where ever God has me working. Where ever He has me serving I want to rejoice and find the fun in the moment at hand.

On a side note about the barn, I believe the leaning barn will stand through this year because it is not in the schedule of the summer tasks to clean up and rebuilding it this year. But the joy of fulfilling the dream of rebuilding a replica of the barn will be overwhelming when it comes time to build. For our leaning barn there will not be a time to tear down, just a time to rebuild someday.

May God bless you with finding joy in your day today.