A Joyful Heart Is Good Medicine

I had a fascinating conversation with a friend recently about humor. We talked about the many styles of humor and how they can be used to hurt or to heal. Some people use humor to cope, some to passively express how they really feel, some to cut others down, and some to bring joy and connection through shared experiences. Humor is deeply personal. What one person finds hysterical, another may find offensive or simply unfunny.

I’ve realized that I have a fairly broad sense of humor. I can usually adapt to the humor of others because I find most styles amusing in one way or another, and I genuinely love a good laugh. I also enjoy humor most when it creates connection, so adjusting my humor to meet someone else where they are often feels worth it.

That said, I do have my own offbeat sense of humor, one that many people in my life probably never see. If I counted the people I can truly cut loose with, it would be a very small number. My younger brother is one of them, and I have a friend or two who share my love for certain comedians and sketch comedy. With many others, I hold back, knowing it may not be understood or well received.

While it can be a little sad that I can’t connect with everyone through humor, I understand it. I have my own limits, too. One type of humor I’ve never enjoyed is teasing. I don’t like doing it, and I don’t like it done to me, even though I know it’s often used to express affection or as a means of flirting. I also struggle with sarcasm when it’s passive-aggressive or pointed. Sarcasm that isn’t personal is fine, especially when it’s clearly playful, like joking about liking something you obviously don’t or vice versa — “Oh, I know how much you love winter!”

I think this topic fascinates me because God created humor for an important purpose and as a powerful form of communication. Humor can convey truth quickly, soften grief, and help people cope. It can also be used to tear others down, especially in political or cultural spaces. Yet Scripture reminds us that humor and joy are meant to heal. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Science backs this up. Laughter boosts the immune system, protects the heart, relieves pain, relaxes the body, reduces stress and anxiety, improves mood, and even supports cognitive function. Some studies suggest that people with a strong sense of humor may live longer.

The Bible also speaks beautifully about joy and laughter:
“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.” (Job 8:21)
“A glad heart makes a cheerful face.” (Proverbs 15:13)
“Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice.” (Psalm 32:11)
“You have put more joy in my heart.” (Psalm 4:7)
“The cheerful of heart has a continual feast.” (Proverbs 15:15)
“She laughs at the time to come.” (Proverbs 31:25)

For me, there is nothing more joyful than laughing until you cry with someone you love. Adults lose so much of the carefree joy of childhood as we age (ie playing with toys, playing with friends, playing make-believe), but thankfully, we never lose the power of laughter. And maybe that’s by design, because a shared laugh doesn’t just lighten the moment, it reminds us we were made for joy, connection, and healing.