A Prayer about God’s Laugh
A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.
(Ps. 37:10–13 NIV)
Dear Father, laughter is not one of the things I grew up associating with you. Austerity, rigidity, sobriety, yes— but not laughter. I praise you that the gospel continues to expose, deconstruct, and replace all kinds of groundless notions I’ve had about you. There’s really nothing more important about us than the image of you we have in our hearts.
I so look forward to the day when I will actually hear you laugh, for that will be the day when all evil, wickedness, and injustice will be eradicated. It’s hard to ceive of a universe, a nation, a city, a relationship— even one heart, my heart— in which every semblance of sin and brokenness is completely gone.
That day is coming, and we praise you for this great hope that “the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace” (Ps. 37:11). Because of Jesus we have an inheritance “that can never perish, spoil or fade . . . kept in heaven” for us (1 Pet. 1:4 NIV). I only wish the little while longer we have to wait would be a little less long.
But you are the God who does all things well. I know this to be true, and when- ever I doubt it, one look at the cross tends to bring me back to gospel sanity— back to the meekness that is appropriate for those who are destined to inherit the new heaven and new earth.
So when wicked plots and gnashing teeth seem to be on the increase and righteousness seems to be on the decrease, please, Father, allow me and all of your children to hear your laughter in the gospel of the kingdom.
May your joy be our strength, your promise be our confidence, and your timing be our schedule. May the hope of great peace compel us and propel us into greater expressions of missional living and loving. Give us eyes to see and hearts to believe that even right now, Jesus is making all things new. We pray in Jesus’ triumphant name.
Amen.