Introduction : It is so scary to watch the news these days because of the horrible, inhumane things happening in our neighborhoods. Parents kill their children, and children kill their parents. A husband kills his wife, and a wife kills her husband. Kidnapping, rape, and suicide are happening so easily. Love and pity are disappearing from people´s hearts. Why is it that our lives are turning out this way?

This reminds me of a movie I saw. A big building was on fire. All the elevators stopped, and all the stairways filled with smoke just like a chimney. People were hanging on the windows and falling like dead leaves. The fire department put a large-sized cushion on the ground. People who fell on the cushion were startled a little, but they were saved. But people who fell on the asphalt were covered with blood, and they were dead.


1. When we are frustrated with guilt.
    1) A very famous politician went to jail because he took a bribe, and he committed
        suicide because he could not bear the indignity and frustration.
        He had no strength to overcome the situation.
    2) The insult and frustration that Jesus overcame.
        (1) Look at the insult and frustration that the Son of God had to face
            (Heb 12:2,3; 1 Pe 2:22,23).
        (2) Jesus became the cushion of forgiveness and love before God
            (Jn 3:16; Eph 1:7; Ro 8:37).
        (3) Every sinner will become a whole new person before God
            (2 Co 5:17; 1 Co 13:11; Eph 5:8).

2. When we go through an ordeal.
    1) In the moment of despair in the dark valley of self-accusation and the fear of being
        abandoned.
    2) Psalm 23:4 - Jesus is with us in the valley of death.
        Jesus brightens the darkness, becomes the life that overcame death, saves us with
        the rod, and protects us with the staff. When we rely on Jesus, He will be our
        mental cushion (Ps 17:8; Isa 41:10).
    3) Psalm 91:1-7.

3. When our lives are in danger due to serious illness.
    1) Despair of the heart is scarier than illness (Pr 15:13; 17:22).
    2) Hope in life will become a cushion.
        (1) Healing is God´s will (Isa 53:4,5).
        (2) The mission and healing of Jesus (Heb13:8).
    3) We can fight with intense prayer by taking the cushion of hope in our hearts
        (Mk 16:17,18; Jas 5:15,16).

4. When we face death.
    1) When death becomes a subjective experience.
        We will be seized with extreme fear.
    2) The realization that Jesus is our Savior and will always be with us (Jn 14:1-4).
    3) The hope of heaven will become a cushion (2 Co 5:1, 8-9; Php 1:23).
    4) God´s promise that we will meet our loved ones again will become a cushion of hope
        (1 Th 4:13,14; 2 Co 1:4,5).


Conclusion : Jesus is willing to be a cushion for us while we are going through all kinds of hardship and trials. We can overcome all hardship with the strength and comfort of Jesus, if we love the Lord and live in His Word.