Hope For The Heartbroken

“Hope for the heartbroken”

John 14:1-3

Have you ever had one of those days when everything goes wrong?

­ It doesn't make any difference how hard you try,

­ it just seems that everything backfires on you?

­ The harder you try, the worse it gets.

There are times:

­ when things really start to go wrong.

­ Your whole world seems to be crumbling around you.

Things seem to be going from bad to worse:

- It feels like if it can go wrong, it will go wrong

- the weight of everything is too much to carry

- trouble upon trouble seems to come your way

I'm convinced that all of us have had seasons like that.

Imagine a hiker climbing a steep, rocky trail:

• He slips on loose stones, trips over roots, and

• then rain starts pouring down.

• Each step feels heavier, and the summit seems farther away.

Then a fellow hiker appears beside him, steady and strong, offering a hand and walking with him:

• Suddenly, the climb doesn’t feel as impossible, help has come.

That’s exactly what Jesus offers:

• His presence and

• His guidance

• when life feels overwhelming.

This morning, I wonder if there’s anyone here who needs that comfort:

o Maybe you’ve lost a loved one.

o Maybe you’re facing financial struggles or health problems.

o Perhaps loneliness or depression is weighing you down.

Jesus’ solution for troubled hearts is TRUST…

John 14:1–3 (NIV)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

These words were first spoken to Jesus’ TROUBLED disciples…

The apostles were likely filled with confusion and uncertainty as John 14 begins:

­ Their lives were being turned upside down

­ Their week had started with excitement and triumph but

­ was quickly turning toward fear and disappointment.

It is Thursday night now:

- Judas has gone to betray Jesus

- Jesus has told them of He is leaving

- and told them they cannot come with Him

Remember, the disciples had left everything to follow Jesus:

- they had left family and friends

- they had left homes and businesses

- all they had left was Jesus

And now Jesus is telling them He is leaving them:

- they must be perplexed

- they are probably feeling abandoned

They do not know what they are going to do!

- for 3 years they had followed Jesus

- He had been their teacher, guide and their provider

I imagine they are thinking to themselves “Now what?”:

- how are we going to live?

- the future is uncertain

- they desperately want to understand, but they are still perplexed

Have you ever been in a “Now what?” situation:

- where there are no good obvious solutions

- and you have exhausted your own intelligence and strength

- and still the problems are knocking at your door.

At such times, relying on our faith is essential.

The Psalmist writes in Psalm 42:5 (NIV):

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

That is today’s message:

- turn your eyes upon Jesus

- Put your hope in God

Trust in the Lord with all your heart:

- you do not have to fix everything

- you do not have to understand everything

- You just have to TRUST in God’s ability

1. Trust in Jesus’ PRESENCE.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”

- John 14:1 (NIV)

There are reasons that our hearts can become troubled:

- real problems exist

- pain is a reality

- failure is a possibility

All of us have tasted the sting of this world, and it’s not fun:

- a loved one leaves us behind

- a Dr. tells you bad news

- or you suffer daily from physical and mental afflictions

Jesus says…

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

- John 16:33 (NIV)

Jesus does not paint a fictional pretty picture of life:

- He acknowledges we will face trouble and heartbreak, life will be painful at times

- He also promises His peace because

- He has overcome the world

This is a hard lesson to learn…