The Cushion

So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’ The LORD your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the LORD has spoken. And the LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. And the LORD will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:1-8 ESV). Someone once observed that "as the sea is subject to storms and tempests, so is every man in the world." His point: storms enter everyone's life. But how do we handle the storms? I read a story about a new submarine that was being tested. As part of its test, the submarine had to remain submerged beneath the ocean's surface for a long time. While the submarine was submerged for its test, a powerful storm passed through the area, causing a great deal of damage. When the submarine returned to the harbor, the head of the team that was evaluating the submarine asked the captain, "How did that terrible storm affect you?" The captain looked at the man in surprise and exclaimed, "Storm? We didn't even know there was one!" The reason for the captain's surprise was that his submarine had been so far beneath the ocean's surface that it reached the area known to sailors as "the cushion of the sea." Although a storm's high winds may whip the surface into huge waves, the waters in the "cushion" are not even stirred. So while vessels up above were being subjected to turmoil and damage, the submarine down below was not affected. It remained safely in the "cushion." Our reading this morning reminds us that "...God will never leave or forsake His people." So even during difficult times, God is there to provide us with peace and safety. But like the submarine, we must take certain actions if we are to receive the benefits that are available. We must learn to focus our lives. A life focused on yourself and your problems puts circumstances between you and God. However, a life focused on God puts Him between you and your circumstances. The right focus makes all the difference in the world. Protect your mind from damaging waves of frustration, worry and despair. Focus your life on God, and place your trust in Him. If you do, storms of various types will still come and go. But as you are cushioned by God's grace, you will gain the tranquillity that only He can provide.