Help For A Troubled Soul

Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, family, teachers, coaches, school admin, fellow students, and others waking up today with the realization that ____________________ will not be a part of my life anymore.

Funerals to prep for, insurance, police interviews, reporters, politicians to put up with and listen to....

So much heartache, trouble

Yet, life goes on....what do I do about my Troubled soul, my broken heart, my crushed spirit?

The rejections, defeats, and failures that all of us have experienced can create enough negative feelings to destroy us. It is here that we must be very careful!

Often the most painful wounds are not the scars that are outwardly seen, but the hidden wounds deep in the heart. Being hidden, they are often the most dangerous.

Setbacks in our lives, struggles in the journey, trials that fall across the way, can take the joy out of living. Our faith is weakened, and if we collect enough hurts it will stop us from wanting to press forward.

Even success can make one the target of criticism. Do not let the hurts hurt you!

In the these passages of Scripture, Jesus has just dropped to huge bombshells into the lives of these disciples:

1. One of the disciples would betray Him

2. That Jesus would be leaving them

3. That Peter would deny Him

It is easy to understand the passions that they were experiencing at this moment when you read John chapter 13 along with John chapter 14.

Jesus saw their confusion and spoke words of comfort and challenge!!! They are given good news about the future and told not to worry about today.

Worry is a sin. It is also a huge waste of time and energy!!

Worry defined: “a small trickle of fear that meanders through the mind until it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.”

We live in a wicked and worrisome world: economy, elections, nations on the rise, wickedness in our country, lack of leadership in many places, homes falling apart, wars and rumours of wars, churches entertaining the masses instead of evangelizing the masses, apathy and indifference in our churches, very few distinctions between Christians and the world in dress, entertainment, thinking, politics.

The Lord Jesus Christ gives a 3 step prescription to help a troubled soul in a troubled world: Fears to escape; faith to embrace, and a future to envision.

I. THERE ARE FEARS TO ESCAPE-VS. 1

To understand what precipitated these words, we have to go back to John chapter 13.

Jesus and His disciples have just enjoyed a pleasant meal. After which, Jesus donned a towel and washed his disciples’ feet.

After these things Jesus drops a major bombshell on his disciples.

He tells them that he will be betrayed by one of their own number vs 21-30.

He also tells them that He is going to be going away, Vs 31- 33.

They learn the horrific news that their leader Peter will also deny him vs 36-38.

The Savior’s words must have broken their hearts, shattered their confidence, and left them devastated. That is why we have the precious words of Chapter 14.

b. We need to remember this when the tough times come our way: trials and tribulations are slated for all of God’s children.

John 16:33 KJV 1900

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Job 14:1 KJV 1900

Man that is born of a woman Is of few days, and full of trouble.

c. However, in the midst of our difficulties, we can have peace!

The Word “Let” is a call for you and I to be involved in the troublesome times of life. We’re not called upon to sit idly by while our lives are destroyed before our very eyes. We do have recourse in the time of trouble!

Philippians 4:6–7 KJV 1900

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Matthew 11:28 KJV 1900

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

1 Peter 5:7 KJV 1900

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

I. There are fears to escape

II. THERE IS A FAITH TO EMBRACE- VS. 1

There is a Sufficient Faith

The word believe is a life altering word!

The Word believe means “to think to be true, to be persuaded off, to have confidence in.”

Believe literally means “to exercise faith in someone or something.” This verse speaks of two kinds of beliefs or faith.

There Is Sustaining Faith - “Ye believe in God”

This is the kind of faith that will bring you through the valleys!

This kind of faith believes that God exists and that He is in absolute control of all things.

When it comes to God, we can have faith:

1. His Promises –

Romans 8:28 KJV 1900

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Isaiah 40:31 KJV 1900

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint.

2. His Power –

Isaiah 40:12 KJV 1900

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, And meted out heaven with the span, And comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, And weighed the mountains in scales, And the hills in a balance?

Ephesians 3:20 KJV 1900

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

3. His Plans –

Psalm 37:23–25 KJV 1900

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: And he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread.

4. His Peace

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV 1900

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

John 14:27 KJV 1900

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

If you can ever learn to trust God completely, without reservation, then you have the very tool you need to loosen fear’s grip on your life!

As soon as you come to the place where you know God will do as He has promised and you leave life up to Him and His will, then you are free!

Friends, you can trust the Lord!

There Is Saving Faith - “Believe also in Me”

Romans 10:9–10 KJV 1900

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

It isn’t enough just to believe that there is a God.

After all, the devils also believe that and they aren’t saved,

James 2:19 KJV 1900

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

To be a saved, a person must believe the Gospel message.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 KJV 1900

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

III. THERE IS A FUTURE TO ENVISION-VS. 2-3

It Includes A Precious Place - “In My Father’s house are many mansions”

We need to remember that we are not home yet! While the troubles and trials we face are part of this earthly existence, they will not follow us where we are headed! Praise God, the burdens of life are temporary at best.

It Includes A Prepared Place “I go to prepare a place for you”

Ill. This world and all its wonders. It was made by the hand of the Lord in just 6 days. Oh, how glorious and wonderful Heaven must be! After all, he’s had over 2,000 years to work on it! It will be far greater than our feeble, human minds can comprehend.

Revelation 21:1–4 KJV 1900

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

1 Corinthians 2:9–10 KJV 1900

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

(Note: By the way, Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people! Are you prepared for that place?)

It Includes A Powerful Promise - “I will come again” -

Everyday you and I live with one of the greatest promises the world has ever known as our support.

We have our Savior’s promise that He will personally return to receive His people unto Himself one day, v. 3;

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 KJV 1900

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Revelation 22:20 KJV 1900

20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Conclusion

I would like to conclude these remarks this morning by asking you a few simple questions:

What are you afraid of today?

If you will come to Him, the Lord can and will replace your fear with His precious peace!

What are you trusting in to take you to Heaven?

Everybody believes in something! Have you ever trusted Jesus as your personal Savior? If not, you can be saved if you will come to Him by faith.

Are you willing to get your eyes above your trials, and see the gates of home?

If the burdens of life have gotten you down, I invite you to come before the Lord and let Him help you cast your gaze higher than this earth.

There is help and hope in Him! Regardless of what you need today, you will find your answer in Him.

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