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Five Ways to Heal a Hardened Heart



Have your hopes, dreams, and desires ever been flying high in the sky like helium filled balloons only to be burst by the sharp ‘pins’ of life? In other words, have you ever been disappointed? I mean really, really disappointed.  You know, the disappointment that aches in your soul. That disappointment that leaves you feeling sick, defeated, and hopeless!

That disappointment can quickly harden your heart and lead you to distrust God.  If you are struggling today, here are four early warning signs that will rapidly put you on a path of not trusting God:
  1. If you are thinking that God has forgotten you.
  2.  When you question if God is even still there.
  3. If you wonder if you are being punished.
  4. When you speak that things will never change.
I totally get it.  We have all been there.  However, we cannot allow ourselves to stay there.  Thankfully, the Bible teaches us how to combat the distrust in Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.


1.  Trust in the Lord with all Thine Heart

Now, let’s just be honest, when you have been smacked in the face with disappointment, trusting in the Lord with all your heart is not the easiest thing to do. In fact, it is quite difficult! Before we know it, our hearts are full of distrust. We silently wonder, am I really a Christian if I am struggling like this to trust God?

Can you trust God in all of the areas of your life? Will your heart allow you to trust and believe what He has already spoken?  What is it that causes us to believe what some people say, but not what others say? Why do we trust the promises of some, but not others? Often, it comes down to whether or not we have a relationship with the individual. We are always more likely to believe someone we know and trust. Could it mean that our relationship with God needs more intimacy when we struggle to trust Him?  We must get to the place where we believe EVERYTHING God says. You have to know in your heart that He can be trusted.

2.  Lean not unto Thine Own Understanding

Has God ever given you a Word of encouragement? Maybe the Word came through a scripture, a trusted person, or a whisper down in your spirit. Perhaps, you are struggling with a sickness or disease and you feel like God is going to heal you. You go to church and the preacher is preaching from Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) …and with his stripes we are healed. Then, a friend tells you that God said you were healed. Will you trust what you have received?

Well, how can you trust God when your body still aches, you see the physical effects of the sickness, and you hear the doctor’s reports? Well, dear friend, there is only one thing you can do, and it sounds really strange.  You must completely ignore what your senses are suggesting.  That is what it means to lean not on your own understanding.  In other words, do not believe/accept what you think you know or understand.  2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV) states for we walk by faith, not by sight. Walking by faith looks like trusting God in spite of what our senses are telling us. Keep trusting God when what you see is confusing. Keep trusting God when what you hear is questionable. Keep trusting God when what you feel is misleading.

3.  In All Thy Ways Acknowledge Him

We have to acknowledge that we need His help. When we acknowledge that we need Him, then He will come quickly to our rescue.  Not only that, ‘in all thy ways’ suggests that wherever we are, whatever we do, we must not leave God out of it.  He should be a very active participant in each of our lives.  God should be involved in our decision-making and daily activities.  Will you acknowledge Him today?

4.  He shall Direct Thy Paths

I do not know about you, but I need God to direct my path.  Every time I have tried to direct my own path, I end up in a mess. Every single time; it never fails. No, I do not know where He will lead me, or how long it will take, but I just have to trust that it will be better than the mess I would lead myself into. In fact, it will be much better because He loves me so much. He loves you too!  In the midst of disappointing situations, it is hard to remember that God is indeed still directing our paths.  We feel lost and isolated, but as long as we still trust Him, then we are still on the path.  Keep your eyes locked on Him and your feet on the path.
Holy Spirit is praying for you and I today.  Do you know what He is praying?  He is praying that we will use Proverbs 3:5-6 to create hearts that consistently trust God.  He is praying that when those early warning signs try to stir up in our hearts that we will be ready to squash them right away.  I am grateful for His prayers and I am sure you are too.  Today, let’s choose to rest in Him and let trust flood our hearts.  Let Him heal your soul!

Share this post today with someone who is struggling to trust God.

I want to hear from YOU!
Question:  Which of the early warning signs are determined to defeat today?
Your Sister in Christ,










Prayer:  Heavenly Father,  I am struggling to trust you today.  Help me to immediately recognize the early warning signs and refuse to give in to them.  Teach me to effectively apply Proverbs 3:5-6 to my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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