The Cushions of Life

by Carolyn Newell

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 NKJV

As we walked down the sidewalk, Iva, my guide dog, swerved to avoid something. “Great job, Iva!”

We continued our walk, but my curiosity began working overtime. What was on the sidewalk that Iva avoided? I considered going back, but that might tell Iva we need to rework a mistake.

The next day, I slowed our pace as we neared the same area. When Iva swerved around the obstacle again, I stopped. “Great job, Iva! What a good girl!” Plenty of praise told her she didn’t mess up. I could see a white square on the sidewalk behind my left shoulder. I knelt down and carefully touched it with my index finger. Styrofoam. It looked like the type of styrofoam that cushions electronics in a box. Mystery solved.

Whether we purchase a computer or a toaster, we don’t want it banged up before it gets home. If we order something from Amazon, we find bags of air to keep items from moving around. Styrofoam packaging and air pockets cushion our stuff to keep it safe. But we have other types of cushions in life, and I’m not referring to the throw pillows on your sofa.

If possible, we like having a nest egg, some money saved up for an emergency. Sometimes, we like a little extra in our checking accounts to protect us from an overdraft. Also, over the past couple of years, stocking up on household items like toilet paper and groceries has given us some cushion. Having extra things on hand has become the new norm for many.

But what happens when the cushion is removed? What if we use that last roll of toilet paper, and the shelves at Walmart stand bare? What happens when one emergency wipes out our entire nest egg? What if the stock market drops and our 401K takes a major hit? We panic! Our hearts pound as we grab our heads. “What are we going to do now?”

Friend, we have one cushion that will never flatten or let us down. Jesus Christ! Nest eggs and stockpiles have limits. Jesus knows no bounds. He will provide our every need because He is our Creator. Would He bring us into existence without the means to sustain us?

Did our calamity catch God off-guard? No. In fact, He saw it coming because He has already been in our tomorrows. He knows no limits in time. Our perfect Father provides for all His children. As sovereign Lord over every aspect of our lives, He will never leave us emptyhanded.

Lord, we thank You and praise You that the righteous will never have to beg bread (Psalm 37:25). You are our provider, Jehovah Jireh, and we trust You. Amen.

This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Carolyn Dale Newell is a speaker and the author of five books, including her series, Guide Dog Tales, where she includes devotionals just like this one. Carolyn knows what it is to live with blindness, but she calls her disability a gift from God. She shares her stories of vulnerability and conquered fears in a vast buffet of topics suitable for retreats or conferences. She is accompanied by her beautiful guide dog, Iva, a black lab who is adored by all. Carolyn resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with her husband, Tim. She loves reading, pizza, and discovering new independence with Iva. You can connect with Carolyn on her website, https://amountainoffaith.com/.

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/carolyndalenewell/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC126VS7qlK8MFwJgdyiqCQQ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyndnewell/en

Join the conversation: On what “cushions” do you depend?