Hardness of Heart

In the Gospel, we’ll hear our Lord reference hardness of heart. It’s a concept that runs throughout Scripture, and it’s such a good visual for us.

But I think it can mean two different things. Our hearts can be hardened in both desire and will.

If our Lord is calling us to something or asking us to do something, hardness of heart might first be not wanting to. That’s the desire component. Do we even want to follow the Lord? Do we want what He’s offering? Or are we resistant from the start, our hearts closed to His invitation?

The other piece is whether we follow through. This is where the will comes in. Think of the rich young man who went away sad because he had many possessions. It seems the desire was there—he came to Jesus asking what he must do. But when Jesus told him, the will to act wasn’t. He couldn’t let go, for whatever reason.

Two types of hardness. Two different struggles.

Some of us resist God’s call because we don’t want what He’s offering. We’re comfortable where we are, skeptical of where He’s leading, unwilling to even entertain the possibility of change.

Others of us hear the call clearly, feel the pull, maybe even long for what God is inviting us to—but we can’t seem to take the step. We know what we should do, but fear, comfort, or attachment keeps us frozen.

It’s worth reflecting on our own hearts. Where have they hardened? Is it a matter of desire—do we need to ask God to make us want what He wants? Or is it a matter of courage—do we need to ask Him for the strength to do what we already know we should?

Because the answer to that question changes what we need to pray for.