Reading this book in the middle of a global pandemic, the title alone intrigued me. Who wants to laugh at the days to come when life is not as we once knew it?
Tessa Thompson has more experience than many of living with trials that do not induce laughter. Diagnosed with a neurological disorder in her teens, she lives with constant nerve problems, but seeks to show us through this book, and the verse that the title comes from (Proverbs 31:25), that we can indeed laugh at the time to come.
Aimed at women, the volume is divided up into three parts: the definition of laughter, the doctrine, and the doing. This is not about struggling to find joy in every difficult situation or daily mundane tasks or the pain of chronic illness, but finding God’s purpose in our lives, knowing that he is in control, and acknowledging his sovereignty even in those times when we feel it is all too much to bear.
This is a well presented book and easy to read, although one read is probably not enough! It is a deeply personal story and yet has rich theological detail which the author has made easy to understand. She points us clearly to God the Father and his sovereignty, to Christ who understands our sufferings, and to the Spirit who sustains us. She gives an honest account of how difficult some days are, and how easy it is to forget that we have these holy resources to draw upon. This book reminds us that we are all on a journey, and the hardships of today and tomorrow need not overcome us as we travel on to our heavenly home, being able to laugh at the days to come.
Jacqueline Pountney
Welwyn
