3 Unwanted Effects Of A Hard Heart | 3 Efectos No Deseados Del Corazón Endurecido

By 24th September 2021 Uncategorised

It’s been a difficult two years. Have you have felt isolated or lonely? Perhaps you have been hurt by unkind words or maybe you have been weighed down with disappointment. 

The people of Israel suffered in similar ways. Ezekiel 36:3b describes their pain: “They made you a desolation and they snapped after and crushed you from every side… and you became the talk of the people”

Ezekiel 36 continues, explaining that God still had a great plan for their lives, just as He does for you. But there was a problem. The hardship of life had caused their hearts to harden.


WHY A HARD HEART IS A PROBLEM

You might not think that having a hard heart matters, but Proverbs 28:14b says, “…he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” Calamity is not a common word. It means distress, trouble, grief and hurt. 

Having a hard heart creates problems, but it also feels horrible. If it’s a little hard towards God, it will make you feel dry or detached. If your heart is hard towards someone you know,  you will be disinterested in them, prickly or defensive. 

When our hearts are tender, we will have a softness inside, we will be easily moved to sympathy or compassion, we will be kind. 

God wants to restore you completely. 1 Peter 3:8b tells us to “…be tenderhearted…” Ephesians 4:32 explains how: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.”

 

3 CONSEQUENCES OF A HARD HEART 

  1. Breakdown in Relationships: Matthew 19:8 explains why divorce became a necessary option: “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce…” Hardness also leads to break down in other relationships.
  1. Brick-wall to your Prayers: 1 Peter 3:7 and Proverbs 28:14b make it obvious that a lack of tenderness in relationships can cause our prayers to be hindered.
  1. Barrier to your Breakthrough: Psalm 95 explains that hard hearts prevented the Israelites from entering their promised land. For you and me, our “promised land” is our highest hopes and dreams. 

 

HOW TO TENDERIZE YOUR HEART

There are three steps you can take to soften hardness. Firstly, ask the Lord to heal your heart for all the hardships you have suffered. Secondly, completely forgive anyone who has wronged you, and thirdly, make a choice.

Any time the Bible tells us to be kind or be patient, it means that we need to engage our will and make a choice. We are instructed to be tender hearted, so make that choice in your heart. 

A message I preached on this topic will help you, click here to watch. Also, I have a chapter in My Whole Heart on how to soften a hard heart. Please hit the heart button at the top if you enjoyed this blog and share your comments. 

One Comment

  • Donna Xuereb says:

    I so appreciated that sermon Jo, and I’m grateful for the written reminder of it. I’m going to try to print it out as a daily reminder to follow through.
    God bless you, restore you, comfort you and refresh you in every area.

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