A Laughing God

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do (Galatians 5:16-17, ESV).

One of the things I love most is laughing with my friends. I have one in particular that when I call, it’s almost a guarantee that we’ll have a laughing fit about something. Have you ever thought about what it would’ve been like for the disciples to laugh with Jesus? It’s one of the things I most look forward to in Heaven.

I recently had a moment where I thought about our God as all knowing, all powerful, and ever-present, but that He is also a laughing God.

If you’re like me, you like to make plans. My wheels start spinning, I formulate an idea, and before I know it, I’ve walked myself through an entire plan without consulting the Lord. While planning can be productive, the problem arises when this planning of mine leads me to begin believing that I know better for myself than the omniscient Father that is the leader of my life.

Over the past few months, I’ve experienced some significant change as multiple people that I love dearly have moved away. When I experience change around me, it sometimes prompts within me a desire to see significant change in my life as well.

I start looking on Zillow, despite knowing I’m completely content with the home I love now. I think about what a job change would look like, despite knowing I’m happier in my job now than maybe I ever have been. I yearn for a place with more green space, despite knowing I can barely take care of everything I have now!

Enter a laughing God. We make our plans, and I know it makes Him laugh. He knows best, and my heart is always to follow Him. That requires a listening ear, an open heart, and a decision to choose obedience despite desires of the heart that may be pulling me in a different direction.

The Lord really drove this point home to my heart recently. While talking about things I’d like to be different in the next home I purchase, my 7 year old niece said: Yeah, and the next house you buy can be closer to our house. What a tug on the heart strings, right? And believe me, I felt it. Yet, in the days following, through specific connections and calls to serve, the Lord made it very clear that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Yes, Lord. Thank you, Jesus.

The pull of the heart can sometimes be very strong. But as much as I love my family, if there’s anything I’ve learned in my time as a follower of Jesus is that walking in step with the Spirit is always the best plan. Galatians 5:16-17 says: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

That last line always gets me. My heart will always yearn for the desires of my heart, but as a follower of Jesus, I believe that as I continue to follow Him, those desires will align with His best for me. And if I always did the things I wanted to do, I know I wouldn’t be where I am right now. And for that, I am so thankful.

#galatians #trust #christ #laugh #thenarrowpath #obedience #spirit #discipline #jesus