“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…
- but one reason we may feel anxious and irritated
- and far from God
- is because we are living in SIN and far from God
The reassurance of God is only available:
- to those who will draw near to Him
- WE cannot live a sin filled life and expect God’s presence
- to comfort US
God cannot be near sin and will not support sin….
It may be time to REPENT:
- because until we from our sin and towards God
- we have put ourselves into a helpless situation
Why We Must Turn from Sin:
• Sin separates us from God. (Isaiah 59:2)
• Sin leads to spiritual death. (Romans 6:23)
• God desires holiness and obedience from His people. (1 Peter 1:15–16)
Proverbs 28:13 (NIV):
"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
Still, the faithful are not promised a painless, trouble-free life:
- rather we are promised the opposite…we are promised trouble
- but we are promised His peace
- When we put our TRUST in Jesus
Jesus tells us….
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”
- John 14:1 (NIV)
Jesus acknowledges the Disciples trust in God:
- whom they have never seen
- and tells them to have faith in Him as well
- both affirming His deity and His ongoing presence
They trust Jesus now:
while He is visible to them,
they can TRUST him later
when He goes to the Father
Remember that for the Christian:
- God is not only with us
- God, the Holy Spirit is within us
- so, we have the greatest power very near
WE need a child-like faith in God:
- trusting Him that no matter what
- He will carry us through
- and we do not need to know How He will do it, just that He will do always be victorious
Having childlike faith means that:
- I rely on God to provide for me, just like a child trusts their parents
- Children trust and we must TRUST in God, because He is our FATHER
- Childlike faith admits we can’t save ourselves—we need Christ.
A little boy was walking home from school when a thunderstorm rolled in:
Lightning flashed, thunder boomed, and rain poured down.
The boy was terrified—until his father appeared with an umbrella.
The father, tall and strong, calmly reached down and took his son’s hand:
They walked together through the storm.
The storm did not stop
lightning and thunder still raged.
But everything changed for the boy.
His fear was replaced with peace.
Why? Because his strong father was beside him.
God doesn’t always remove our storms, but He walks with us through them.
True peace is found not in the absence of storms but in the presence of God:
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
- Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
Yet it is an important lesson, because:
when we face troubles & difficulties in life,
we need to remember as Christians that Jesus has promised,
Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:20:
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
We can TRUST in God’s PRESENCE…and we can
2. Trust in a future PLACE.
"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?"
- John 14:2 (NIV)
One concern some of us have had is:
- where am I going to live…
- what if I lose my income, where will I live?
- what if I become homeless, where will I sleep?
When Dalyn and I got engaged:
- figuring out where we would live was
- one of the things I had to figure out
- I had to come up with rent and deposits and all that stuff
In New Testament times:
when a Jewish couple married,
the father of the bridegroom
often added an extension or prepared a section of the family home.
This was done so the newly married couple would have a place to live.
“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?”
- John 14:2 (NIV)
Like a father preparing a home for his child…
Jesus is intentionally preparing a place for each believer.
Jesus’ promise is personal, caring, and intentional.
Believers can have comfort and assurance knowing their eternal home is secure in Him.
His preparation shows His love and attention to each of His followers.
Application:
1. Trust that God is making a way for us.
2. Look forward with hope: Our eternal home is secure in Christ.
3. Rest in His care: Jesus goes before us, preparing a place for every believer.
We can TRUST in Jesus’ PRESENCE
We can TRUST in a PLACE prepared for us.
And we can….
3. Trust in Jesus’ PROMISE
In life, there are people you trust:
You would trust them with your money or family.
You believe in them wholeheartedly.
These people are rare—hopefully, you have someone like this.
There are others:
Whose word is worthless.
They do not know how to be honest.
They cannot be trusted.
You watch them because they can’t be trusted
How do we know who can be trusted?
Observe how they live.
Are they honest in small matters?
Do they prove faithful with something minor before being trusted with more?
Banks use a similar principle:
They check your past repayment history.
Past performance often predicts future behavior.
What about God’s Trustworthiness???
Can God be trusted?
o Does He keep His Word?
o Absolutely—He is fully reliable.
Examples of God’s faithfulness in Scripture:
o He parted the Red Sea to save His people.
o He saved Daniel from the lions.
o He raised Lazarus from the dead.
o He brought Noah through the flood.
o He provided for His people during the Exodus for 40 years.
Jesus also provided a way for us to be with Him forever!
Jesus went to the cross to pay our debt of sin:
When we put our faith in Him,
we trust that He will one day take us out of this world.
He will bring us to be where He is.
1 Peter 2:24 (NIV):
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’”
Jesus comforts His disciples by:
Assuring them He is preparing a place for them.
Promising a personal, eternal home for every believer.
Without the cross:
We would still be dead in our sins.
Fellowship with God would be impossible.
Because of the cross and our acceptance of the Gospel:
We now have a relationship with Jesus.
Jesus first built a bridge for fellowship with God.
Then He prepares a home for us in His Father’s house—our eternal home in heaven.
Jesus makes a promise:
“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.”
- John 14:3 (NIV)
WE must remember that this world is a temporary place…
Christians often focus too much on the “here and now”:
o Life’s troubles and joys.
o We make plans,
o possessions, and accomplishments.
We forget:
o Life is short and temporary.
o Our real home is in heaven with Jesus.
What do we really want in this life?
When we leave this world, there are only two options:
1. Be with Jesus in heaven.
2. Be separated from Him (hell).
What happens to those reject or deny Christ or are unfaithful servants?
“They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Matthew 13:42 (NIV)
There is Good news: Jesus is coming back to take Christians home.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven… and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (NIV)
Jesus is preparing a place and will bring believers to it.
• Believers can trust that Jesus is
• both preparing a place and coming back to bring them,
• This gives us courage amid trials.
Application
1. Trust in His preparation: Even when life is uncertain, Jesus is making a way for us.
2. Look forward with hope: Our eternal home is secure, and we will be with Him.
3. Rest in His promise: His return is certain, giving courage and peace today.
Life will bring trouble, heartbreak, and uncertainty: CONCLUSION
• Jesus’ solution for troubled hearts is TRUST
• trust in His presence, His prepared place, and His promise.
Jesus walks with us:
through storms,
prepares an eternal home for us, and
will return to take us to Himself.
Our hope and peace are secure, not because life is easy, but because Jesus is faithful and reliable.
The Lighthouse in the Storm:
• Imagine a ship caught in a violent storm at sea.
• The waves crash, the wind howls, and
• the sailors are terrified, unsure if they will survive.
In the distance, a lighthouse shines its steady light—a beacon of hope and guidance:
• The sailors may not see the safe harbor yet, but
• they trust the lighthouse to guide them safely.
Like that lighthouse:
Jesus is our constant presence in life’s storms.
We may not see the full picture, but
we can trust Him to lead us safely to our eternal home.
Today, God is inviting you to trust Him fully:
1. Turn from sin: Allow Jesus to remove the things that separate you from Him. (Proverbs 28:13)
2. Place your hope in His promises…
3. Commit your life to Jesus: Let Him be your guide, comfort, and Savior in every trial.
4. Respond in faith:
- You don’t have to have all the answers—you just need to trust Him completely.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”
– John 14:1 (NIV)
Invitation:
• If you have never placed your trust in Jesus, today is the day to do so.
• If you have wandered from Him, recommit your life to follow Him faithfully.
Jesus promises to be with you, prepare a place for you, and bring you home….
Credit:
- outline came from thoughts from John MacArthur
- Chatgpt helped with some research and illustrations
- Melvin Newland’s sermon was also helpful in research
