Hardened and dulled hearts

As I look at these passages, I see so many cases of hardened and dulled hearts.

The Pharisees had hardened and dulled hearts, asking for signs from heaven, despite the numerous miracles Jesus had already performed. (Mark 8:11-13).

The disciples, despite twice seeing Jesus provide bread for huge crowds, had hardened and dulled hearts, not understanding that Jesus would take care of their needs. (Mark 8:17-21)

Peter and the disciples had hardened and dulled hearts, not understanding that Jesus had to die. Peter went so far as to rebuke Jesus for saying that He did. (Mark 8:31-33, 9:31-33)

The father of the demon-possessed child had a hardened and dulled heart, one moment saying he believed, and the next admitting that he still couldn’t completely believe. (Mark 9:24)

It was because of dull and hardened hearts that God allows for divorce. Far better, for example, for a wife to get a divorce than to suffer abuse from a husband with a hardened heart.

But God’s ideal was that husband and wife become one in a loving union. (Mark 10:5-8)

The rich young man had a hardened and dulled heart, unwilling to let go of his riches in order to follow Jesus. (Mark 10:17-23)

How often are our hearts hardened and dull?

Despite seeing all Jesus has done for us, we still fail to believe that he will provide our needs. Instead, we keep asking for visible signs that he is with us. “God if you’re really with me, do this for me. Do that for me.”

Or Jesus tells us the same truth over and over, and we still can’t grasp it.

We struggle with our faith, one moment believing, one moment not.

Or because of our hardened hearts, we settle for second best instead of God’s ideal.

Because of our hardened hearts, some of us are unwilling to let go of this world in order to follow Jesus. We may do a lot of “good things”, but we never truly give our hearts to him.

What is the medicine for a dull and hardened heart?

God’s grace.

By his grace, God did what was impossible for us: he saved us. (Mark 10:26-27)

And by that same grace, he can soften all the remnants of our dull and hardened hearts.

All we have to do is ask.

To be like that father who said, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

Or like Bartimaeus who said, “Lord, I want to see.” (Mark 10:51)

Lord, help my unbelief. Help me to see and grasp the truth that you love me and want my best. Heal my hardened heart, and help me to trust you completely. In Jesus’ name, amen.