When the laughter ends

Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains. (Proverbs 14:13 NLT)

I have been around some pretty jovial individuals and wondered how they could be so genuinely happy in the midst of great times of struggle in their lives. There seemed to be a fountain of joy that came from deep within that just kept on giving. I have also been around individuals who are laughing, making light of circumstances, but who do not have any genuine joy in the moment. Their laughter does little more than conceal their true feelings. They are experiencing grief, sorrow, and pain - yet they mask it with laughter and lighthearted joking. What is the saddest part of it all is that when their laughter ends, they still have all that pain.

It has taken me years to learn to 'read' the emotions of those around me. Learning to discern the 'true heart' of an individual is not something to be taken for granted. When God reveals something about the struggle another person is experiencing by observing their body language and not just what they say or 'portray', it is time to also ask him how we should respond toward that individual's struggle and pain. We received that 'insight' into their struggle, but what will we do with that insight? Will we use it as a bit of gossip at the water cooler in the breakroom, or will we carefully take it to heart, pray for the person who is hurting so much, and seek God's wisdom as to how we can make a difference in their lives?

When laughter masks the hurt, it may be difficult to understand what another is experiencing. I believe God wants us to be the sort of individuals who look beyond the surface and see the heart. The more we pray for those opportunities to really make a difference in the lives of those around us, the more he will show us exactly where we can be his hands and feet. The emotions that remain hidden behind that mask of laughter may be raw, untamed, and a bit too hard for that individual to admit. We can still stand in the gap for that individual - bringing them before God's throne repeatedly until they find a way to release some of their pain to him. 

God's purpose in placing us in their lives at that moment may not be very clear to us immediately, but given that he placed us there, gave us that small insight into that person's life, and knows we are willing to be his vessel, let's be used as he intends to use us. We shouldn't just pray that God will change their circumstances - we might also pray that he will open our eyes to see where he wants to use us within their circumstances. They likely didn't learn to bury all that pain overnight, so don't be surprised if it takes a while for them to begin to reveal what has been buried so deeply. Be faithful - be there - be his hands and feet. You never know when the laughter will end. You also never know when the healing will begin. Just sayin!