When Hearts are Heavy

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” John 14:1

Solomon, renowned for his wisdom and wealth, describes in Ecclesiastes how achieving knowledge, riches, power, pleasure, and success left him unfulfilled. He reflects on the emptiness he experienced despite having everything he desired.

That’s the journey Solomon shares in Ecclesiastes. As the wisest and wealthiest man of his time, Solomon had everything people dream of: knowledge, riches, power, pleasure, and success. Yet as he reflects in the opening chapters of Ecclesiastes, it all left him feeling empty. “I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with gladness, so that you shall see good things. “And behold, it too was vanity.”  (Ecclesiastes 2:1). He tried laughter, wine, grand projects, music, and romance. Still, he found himself asking: “What does it profit a man?” (Ecclesiastes. 1:3; 3:9)

When life becomes overwhelming and our burdens seem too much to bear, Jesus reminds us to trust deeply—both in God and in his own words of comfort. Sometimes our hearts grow weary, weighed down by circumstances beyond our control, yet the invitation remains: hold on to faith, even when clarity is elusive. When he found himself asking: “What does it profit a man?” (Ecclesiastes. 1:3; 3:9), Solomon wasn’t being cynical—he was being honest. Life “under the sun” (a phrase he uses repeatedly) feels like chasing the wind. We work hard, strive for more, and still feel like something is missing. Why? Because we were never meant to find ultimate meaning in the things of this world.

John 14 is a profoundly comforting and powerful chapter in the Gospel of John. It is part of Jesus’ farewell discourse to His disciples, spoken on the night before His crucifixion. Amidst life’s struggles, Christians can be assured that God cares for them, regardless of the valley they are going through, because Jesus gives peace to all who believe in Him.

Every one of us has experienced the death of someone we love. There is much grief when we lose someone we love. However, we know that one day all who die in Christ will worship God forever in the New Jerusalem. How do we know this? Is this just wishful thinking? Absolutely not. In one of the most beautiful passages in Scripture, Jesus declared, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2-3). Jesus, the one who died for you, has already prepared a place for you in His Father’s house. Be at peace, Christian, even in the worst of times, for our God cares for you and awaits the time when you join Him forever.

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark