Hunter Adams, the physician whose life story was the basis for the 1998 film Patch Adams, has spent his career encouraging doctor-patient relationships that rely heavily on the use of humor and play. Adams believes establishing this kind of connection with a patient is essential to improving their physical and emotional health.

Laughter and humor are an important part of life. The book of Proverbs says “a cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). Generally speaking, all of us could use more laughter in our lives.

While there’s certainly a time for humor, however, sometimes laughter can be a disguise. People can actually appear to be extremely happy, yet inside they feel like an emotional wreck. As a counselor, I’ve had a front row seat to people telling some of the most tragic stories of personal suffering, only to end by laughing about it.

It’s true. Sometimes laughter or making a joke is little more than a cover-up. We can joke around as a way to hide from others so they won’t take us seriously. And many of us have learned to play the clown and hide a lot of deep heartache behind our humor or wit. The book of Proverbs says, “Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains” (Proverbs 14:13). Although laughter can mask the pain, the pain is still there and we need to address it.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when we must face the heartache of life rather than hide from it. There’s a time to turn our laughter into mourning (Ecclesiastes 7:3) and invite God to speak words of comfort and healing into the wounded places of our heart.

Don’t let phony laughter get in the way of the comfort and healing only God can bring.