What are the Causes and Solutions for a Hardened Heart? | GotQuestions.org

Today's question is, what are the causes and solutions for a hardened heart?

In this video I'll answer that question from a biblical perspective.

Afterwards, as always, I'll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.

To better understand the causes and solutions for a hardened heart, it's important to understand the broad

biblical meaning of the word heart.

The Bible considers the heart to be the hub of human personality, producing the things we ordinarily

ascribe to the mind.

For example, Scripture informs us that grief, desires, joy, understanding,

thoughts and reasoning, and most importantly, faith and belief are all products of the heart.

Also, Jesus tells us that the heart is a repository for good and evil, and what comes out of

our mouth—good or bad—begins in the heart.

Considering this, it's easy to see how a hardened heart can dull a person's ability to perceive and

understand.

Anyone's heart can be hardened, even a faithful Christian's.

In fact, in Mark 8, verses 17 -19, we see Jesus' own disciples suffering from this

malady.

The disciples were concerned with their meager bread supply, and it was clear that each of them had forgotten how

Jesus had just fed thousands with only a few loaves.

Questioning them as to the hardness of their hearts, Christ spells out for us the characteristics of the spiritual

condition as an inability to see, understand, hear, and remember.

Regarding this last criterion, too often we forget how God has blessed us and what He has done for us.

Similar to the disciples in this instance or the wandering Israelites in the wilderness, when a new calamity

arises in our lives, our hearts often fill with fear and concern.

Sadly, this simply reveals to God the little faith we have in His promise to take care.

Of us.

We need to remember not only the many times God has graciously provided for us in our times of

need, but also what He has told us.

"'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you '—Hebrews 13, verse 5.

Sin causes hearts to grow hard, especially continual and unrepentant sin.

We know that if we confess our sins, Jesus is faithful and just and will forgive us our

sins—1 John 1, verse 9.

However, if we don't confess our sins, they have a cumulative and desensitizing effect on the conscience,

making it difficult even to distinguish right from wrong.

And this sinful and hardened heart is tantamount to the seared conscience Paul speaks of in 1 Timothy

4, verses 1–2.

Scripture makes it clear that if we relentlessly continue to engage in sin, there will come a

time when God will give us over to our debased mind and let us have it our way.

The apostle Paul writes about God's wrath of abandonment in his letter to the Romans, where we see that the

godless and wicked men who suppress the truth are eventually given over to the sinful desires

of their hardened hearts—Romans 1, verses 18–24.

Pride will also cause our hearts to harden.

The pride of your heart has deceived you.

You who say to yourself, "'Who can bring me down to the ground?'.

I will bring you down,' declares the Lord.".

Also, the root of Pharaoh's hard -heartedness was his pride and arrogance.

In the face of tremendous proofs and witnessing God's powerful hand at work, Pharaoh's hardened heart

caused him to deny the sovereignty of the one true God.

And when King Nebuchadnezzar's heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed of his royal

throne and stripped of his glory until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign

over the kingdoms of man and sets over them anyone He wishes.

Daniel 5, verses 20–21.

Accordingly, when we're inclined to do it our way, thinking we can go it on our own, it would be wise to

recall what King Solomon taught us in Proverbs 16, verse 25.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

So what then is the antidote for a heart condition such as this?

First and foremost, we have to recognize the effect this spiritual disease has on us.

And God will help us to see our heart condition when we ask Him, "...search me, O God, and know my heart.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting.".

Psalm 139, verses 23–24.

God can heal any heart once we recognize our disobedience and repent of our sin.

But true repentance is more than simply a resolute feeling of steadfast determination.

Repentance manifests itself in a changed life.

After repenting of our sins, hard hearts begin to be cured when we study God's Word.

How can a young man keep his way pure?

By living according to your Word.

"...I seek you with all my heart.

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.".

Psalm 119, verses 9–11.

The Bible is our manual for living, as it is God's breath and is useful for teaching, rebuking,

correcting, and training in righteousness.

2 Timothy 3, verse 16.

If we are to live life to the fullest as God intended, we need to study and obey God's written Word, which

not only keeps a heart soft and pure, but allows us to be blessed in whatever we do.

Joshua 1, verse 8 and James 1, verse 25.

Hearts can also become hardened when we suffer setbacks and disappointments in life.

No one is immune to trials here on earth.

Yet, just as steel is forged by a blacksmith's hammer, so too can our faith be strengthened by the

trials we encounter in the valleys of life.

As Paul encouraged the Romans,.

"...but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.

Perseverance, character, and character, hope.

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the

Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.".

Romans 5, verses 3–5.

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