What is better than Laughter?

Ecclesiastes 7:3 "Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better."

I love to laugh and have a good time.  The Bible even tells us in Proverbs that a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.  There is nothing a having a good laugh with someone.  The kind of laugh that makes your eyes water, and your stomach hurt.  Those are the best kind of laughs.  Laughing makes the mood better each and every time. 

While laughter is a good and wonderful thing, Solomon tells us that there is something that is better than laughter.  He said that sorrow is better.  At first glance and with little consideration that statement doesn't make sense.  However when you meditate on that verse for a little while it will begin to sink in.

The World English Dictionary defines sorrow as, "the characteristic feeling of sadness, grief, or regret associated with loss, bereavement, sympathy for another's suffering, for an injury done, etc".

Why is sorrow better?  It is sorrow that brings us to a place that causes us to look inward at our actions.  Sorrow causes us to deal with us.  It is in times of sorrow that drives us to our knees seeking God's face for help.  When was the last time that you came out of a time of laughter that made you seek God in a greater way?  More than likely you never have a time that you have done that.  Read through the book of Psalms, you will find many of them were written in times of sorrow and anguish.  Sorrow stretches and increases our faith.

You can try and avoid sorrow, but it will not work, sorrow will still find you.  Rather than trying to avoid or hide from it, we need to embrace it.  Allow sorrow to come into your life.  Don't fight it, embrace it and let it drive you closer to Lord and make your heart better.  The reason the statement, sorrow is better than laughter, doesn' t make sense to us, is because we have never been taught to embrace it.  I'm certain that we have missed out on some great things from God because we have tried to avoid the sorrowful time of our lives.

One last thought to ponder on.  Just like times of laughter, sorrow is temporary.  It will not stay with you forever.  Go ahead and welcome that sorrow into your life, and make your heart better while you draw closer to God.