A Prayer for Playful Joy - Your Daily Prayer - May 21

A Prayer for Playful Joy
By: Whitney Hopler 

Bible Reading:
“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’” – Psalm 126:2, NIV 

Listen or Read Below:

It can be surprisingly difficult for us as adults to simply play. We enjoy watching children play, but somewhere along the way between childhood and adulthood, we can forget how enjoyable it is to spend time playing ourselves. Our adult responsibilities can seem more important than play. Taking time away from those responsibilities to just enjoy play can feel irresponsible. So, even though we still naturally want to play, many of us neglect to make time for it regularly. 

But Psalm 126 reminds us that enjoyment is important. It describes a time when God restored his people after a painful season. When the restoration came, their response was laughter and joy. The people responded to God’s goodness by wholeheartedly celebrating! This verse reminds us that joy can be a powerful witness to those seeking God. It reports that others noticed the wonderful joy radiating from God’s people to the point that they commented on how God had blessed them. 

Children experience the world with that kind of joy. They laugh freely, and they let themselves play without worrying about taking time to enjoy themselves fully. 

What if you allow yourself to do the same? God will allow you to play – and in fact, God encourages it in your life. You may be an adult in your earthly life right now, but to God, you’re one of his beloved children forever. Your Heavenly Father has given you the natural desire you feel to enjoy play. 

It’s possible to give yourself permission to play as children do and still be a responsible adult. All you have to do is allow space in your life for experiences that exist purely for joy. You need to let yourself have fun without any productive goal attached to your time, just like you did when you were growing up. There are endless ways to enjoy childlike play. You can take a nature walk with no particular destination, share jokes or play a game with a friend, play with your pets, or anything else that you enjoy simply for the fun of it. 

Those experiences may not seem important at first, but they’re actually incredibly important spiritually, because they help you discover the wonder of God’s work in your life every day. Childlike play draws your attention back to the blessings that your generous Heavenly Father is constantly pouring into your life. It gives you a greater perspective on your life, so you can see that there’s so much more that’s valuable beyond just checking items off your to-do list. In the process, childlike play inspires you to build a closer relationship with God by celebrating his work in your life. 

In Psalm 126, the people’s joy was so visible that the surrounding nations noticed. People looked at the restored community and recognized that something truly wonderful had happened. Their laughter pointed back to the work of God himself. 

The same can still be true in your own life today. When you let yourself enjoy the wonder of childlike play, you can point other people who need hope in this fallen world to God, the source of all hope. They’ll notice you enjoying life and naturally want to learn how you do it. You can show them that joy is a gift from God. That will inspire them to seek God and discover how they’re also his beloved children! 

Let’s Pray: 

Dear God, 

Thank you for the gift of joy that comes from your goodness. Life often becomes busy and serious, and I admit that I sometimes forget how to slow down and enjoy the simple opportunities you have given me to play. Please restore a sense of fun in my life. Let me be able to laugh like the people described in Psalm 126.

Help me rediscover the wonder and freedom of childlike play. Teach me that not every moment needs to be productive in order to be meaningful. Help me notice and appreciate the wonderful blessings you’re pouring into my life every day. Fill my life with playful experiences that lead to joy that points back to you.

Let my life reflect the goodness you’ve shown me, so that others can see and say that you have done great things. Amen.

Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Robert Collins 

Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.

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