"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future– Proverbs 31:25 (NLT)
There's something beautiful about a genuine laugh. I am not talking about a nervous chuckle or a forced giggle. I am talking about the deep, belly-shaking laugh that bubbles up from a heart at peace. It's the sound of trust. It’s the sound of freedom. It’s the kind of laugh that says, “I don’t know what tomorrow holds—but I know who holds me in the palm of his hand.”
Proverbs 31 describes a virtuous woman who laughs without fear of the future. The image of a person laughing without fear of the future can apply to all of God's children, not just women. Yet, if we are honest, this image may sometimes feel far from our reality. The future can seem uncertain and overwhelming. It can be filled with what-ifs, worries, and fears. We may find ourselves asking, “How can we even think of laughing when the unknown looms large?”
But here is the secret: we don’t laugh without fear of the future because we think the challenges ahead will be easy. We can laugh without fear of the future because we will never face it alone.
Jesus, our Savior, has gone before us. He stands already in our tomorrows, steady and unshaken. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Because of him, we are clothed in strength that is not our own and wrapped in dignity that cannot be stripped away by changing circumstances and shifting shadows. We can laugh even in deep valleys, not because we’ve figured it all out, but because he already has.
As we prepare for the shadows of Holy Week next week, may we remember that when fear whispers lies in our ears, let Jesus speak louder. His voice can drown out the noise of worry, anxiety, and fear. As we listen to Jesus, we will begin to laugh again. We will laugh again not because we're naive, but because we're rooted in an unshakable joy that isn't diminished by headlines, diagnoses, grief, or disappointments.
So today, let your soul breathe. Smile at the sunrise. Laugh with a friend. Find joy in small things. And when you look ahead, remember this: The One who holds your future also holds you and me.
Jesus loves you, Union Family, and I do too!