Grow Old with a Sense of Humor, Not a Sense of Loss


It’s better to grow old with a sense of humor than to grow old with no sense at all.
Laughter isn’t just something we do — it’s a gift from God. In this powerful, faith-filled talk, Douglas Vandergraph shares how humor heals the heart, strengthens the soul, and keeps your spirit young no matter your age.

The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 17:22 — “A cheerful heart is good medicine.”
Every laugh, every smile, every joyful moment is proof that God still reigns and joy still wins. Grow old with grace, grow wise with laughter, and never lose the joy that keeps your spirit alive.

The Unexpected Power of a Laughing Heart

Think for a moment of a grandparent, perhaps your own, or someone you know who’s carried the years with dignity — but with a twinkle in the eye, a quick joke, a gentle smile. That’s the difference, isn’t it? Two people may be the same age, have lived similar lives, yet one enters the later years feeling beaten down, weary, moon-shut, inner-shrinking — while the other enters those same years with a warmth, a spring in the step, a laugh that bubbles up at the memory of something silly or sweet.

Why? Because laughter is more than comic relief: it is a spiritual discipline, a medicine for the soul, a testimony that grace still flows, that hope still stands. As one article aptly puts it: “Humor isn’t an unnecessary appendage to human life. Laughter is one of God’s physiological gifts that helps alleviate neurological afflictions…” griffingooch.substack.com+1 And another: “Laughter increases heart rate, lowers cortisol, and may reduce heart attack risk.” Veterans Affairs+1

So when we say: “It’s better to grow old with a sense of humor than to grow old with no sense at all,” we’re, in fact, embracing a biblical, theological, medical truth: the joyful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22).

Wisdom for the Aging Soul: Laughter as Grace in the Later Years

Let’s walk together through three key lessons to live by — especially relevant when age begins its gentle knock.

1. You’re still alive — rejoice.

To grow old is not a curse; it’s a continuation of the journey. And if you are alive, you still have purpose, you still have stories, you still have laughter to give. Some days the body may creak, the mind may wander, the calendar may feel heavy — but the heart that still laughs is winning. The very act of chuckling at a memory, giggling at a surprise, smiling at a friend’s quip — these are echoes of God’s own joy. One resource says:

“Christians should embrace laughter because God is happy … and it’s good for us.” thecbcd.org+1
In other words: If God is at rest and full of joy, then we who bear His image can and should discover that joy.

2. Laughter keeps the spirit young.

Spiritually, aging can mean becoming serious, rigid, set in our ways, fearful of change, reluctant to smile. But the gospel calls us to a child-like wonder, to a humility that laughs at its own hubris, to a joy that bubbles up despite wrinkles and creaks. One article speaks of “humor cultivates humility” and “humor keeps us in touch with reality.” radixmagazine.com
To grow old with humor means you refuse to let bitterness settle, you refuse to let regret be your soundtrack, you refuse to let fear of the future snuff out your laughter. The body may age, but the spirit can renew. The mind may forget a name or a date, but the heart can remember goodness, can relish a joke, can delight at God’s grace again and again.

3. Laughter signals triumph — not resignation.

Old age isn’t about giving up. It’s about finishing well. It’s about choosing joy because you know the Author of life. It’s about looking back with gratitude, looking around with compassion, looking ahead with expectation. And laughter is a signal that you believe. That you believe in the One who said: “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” (Luke 6:21)
Humor in our later years says: I have lived. I have learned. I have fallen. I have been forgiven. And I still have laughter in me. Still have strength in me. Still have hope in me.

Why Science, Scripture & Soul Align

Let’s pause and consider how science, Scripture, and the soul converge in this simple truth: laughter is good medicine.

  • Science: According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Whole Health Library:

    “Laughter increases heart and respiratory rates … after intense laughter, muscle tone improves … laughter lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol … higher propensity to laugh correlates with fewer episodes of arrhythmias and recurrent MIs.” Veterans Affairs
    Meanwhile, the Mayo Clinic reports:
    “Laughing can alleviate stress by decreasing stress hormones like epinephrine and cortisol.” Mayo Clinic McPress
    As people age, they often face increased physical stress, health challenges, and cognitive changes. Laughter becomes more than fun: it becomes a physiological benefit.

  • Scripture: “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” (Proverbs 17:22). The Scriptures also show the place of laughter — from Abraham and Sarah laughing at God’s promise to the New Testament beatitude about future laughter. Scholars note that the Hebrew word for “he laughs” (Isaac) connects to surprise and joy in creation. Wikipedia

  • Spirit & Soul: One Christian analysis explains that humor in the Christian life “descends like rain upon a parched heart,” and is rooted in our created-but-fallen human identity. C.S. Lewis Institute
    In other words: we laugh because we’re redeemed, because the Creator delights in our delight, because the Fall is not final.

This convergence means: when an older Christian chooses laughter, they are aligning body, word, and spirit. They’re saying: “Even though I’m older, I’m not done. Even though the world weighs heavy, I still have joy. Even though tomorrow is closer than yesterday, I still play.”

Practical Ways to Grow Old with Humor

Turning all of this into life means asking: how do I live this? Here are six practical ways.

1. Laugh at yourself (graciously).
Don’t wait for a comedian; pick your own moment. When you trip, when you forget, when you mix up names — have a soft laugh. Not self-destructive, not hiding pain, but acknowledging: “Yep, that was me.” That humility invites joy, and teaches younger ones that age doesn’t mean dignity has to be dour.

2. Re-play old joy, invite new joy.
Pull out the album, tell the story, watch the funny video, share the memory that still makes you grin. And invite new memories — a joke with a grandchild, a game with friends, a surprise tea party. One resource suggests: spend time with laughing saints — surround yourself with people who don’t take themselves too seriously. C.S. Lewis Institute

3. Find humor in limitations.
Yes, aging brings limitations. But sometimes limitations bring the best humor. A cane doesn’t have to be grim — it can have a decoration. A walker doesn’t have to be the end of the story — it can be the setup for a punchline. Your glasses aren’t just reading aids — they are the magnificent proof of years valued. A joke: “My knees have filed for emancipation.” But behind the joke is gratitude for the years given.

4. Use your wisdom to tell better jokes.
Aging gives you a story. Use it. Not just “Remember when…” as pity, but as clarity. You have seen God’s faithfulness. You have known disappointment and recovery. You have walked valleys, you have climbed hills. Let your punchlines be infused with faith: “I’ve been saved long enough to know: when I say ‘I’ll rest in Heaven’ — I really mean it, but I still snooze in the afternoon.” That kind of humor — seasoned, spiritual — resonates.

5. Practice laughter intentionally.
One tool literally says: watch a funny video, laugh for ten minutes, notice what it does to your body. Laughter yoga even exists—with people laughing on purpose to get the benefit. Veterans Affairs So schedule it. Make a date with a friend: “Let’s laugh until our sides hurt.” It’s not frivolous; it’s medicine.

6. Let your laughter be a ministry.
When younger generations see an older follower of Christ enjoying life, laughing, rejoicing — it speaks. It communicates that age is not a failure. It communicates that Jesus is still alive, still relevant, still worthy of joyful praise. One article asserts: “Humor is a powerful tool for evangelism.” radixmagazine.com Your laughter invites inquiry: “Why are you so full of joy?” You may answer: “Because I know the One who never grows old.”

Why This Matters More Now Than Ever

In a world that prizes eternal youth, digital perfection, wrinkle-free faces and filtered lives, aging can feel like defeat. You might wake up and the mirror doesn’t look the same. Social media doesn’t highlight your stories. Your aches speak in a language younger ears don’t understand.

But here’s the good news: in that world your laughter is a counter-voice. An older Christian with joy is a rebel against despair. You are saying: “My body may change, but my soul still echoes eternity. My wrinkles tell stories, not regret. My laugh rings out because the God I serve still reigns.”

The world needs that. In fact, the church needs that. When younger believers see your laugh, your light-hearted faith, your resilience — they see a picture of the gospel in aging flesh: grace that covers, strength that sustains, joy that remains. Laughter becomes legacy.

A Final Word: Grow Old, Laugh Loud

So as you step into each new year, each new wrinkle, each new dawn — ask God for a sense of humor. Not just witty quips, but a deep, resilient joy. A joy that says: “I’ve been saved, I’m still being saved, and I have reason to celebrate.”

Read those same words again: It’s better to grow old with a sense of humor than to grow old with no sense at all. Let them echo in your heart. Let them shape your posture. Let them mold your mornings, your afternoons, your evenings.

Because when you laugh — with God, for God, because of God — you declare: He is good. He is faithful. He is timeless. And so is the joy that springs from Him.

So laugh today. Tell that story. Smile at that memory. Share that joke. Grow old with grace, grow wise with laughter, and keep your spirit young by the One who never grows old.

To watch and share this message in full, check out the talk here: Watch the message now

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