Mark 6:52
"For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened."
Preachers or those who minister to people in church oftentimes will say someone has a hard heart. Their reasoning for saying such a strong statement is because someone they are trying to help seems to have no emotion or response to the help. Saying someone has a hard heart is not an out for the one who has made this statement, but when a person shows no signs of desiring spiritual help that is evidence of a hard heart.
Although the hardness of a person's heart who doesn't respond is very easy to identify, there are other symptoms of a hard heart that many times we overlook. It might be surprising that many of those who are stating the hardness of another's heart may have a hard heart themselves. The Scriptures show several symptoms of a hard heart.
First, a hard heart causes one not to see God's ability to work. In the verse above, Jesus said the disciples did not believe Jesus could walk on the water or calm the storm because "their heart was hardened." Jesus didn't say this about people who were not responding to His preaching, but He was saying this to the very one's who were traveling with Him in the ministry. Friend, when you get to the point where you don't think anything is possible, you need to check your heart. God can still perform the miraculous today, but your hardened heart will tell you it can never happen.
Second, a hard heart causes one not to forgive. In Mark 10:5, Jesus said the only reason someone would not be willing to work through marital indiscretions is because of their hard heart. It doesn't matter what a person has done to you, your heart is hard if you are not willing to forgive. Consider what we do to Christ on a daily basis, but He still forgives us; yet, we won't forgive someone who has wronged us and the reason is because we have a hard heart.
Third, a hard heart discounts the miracles of God. In Mark 16:14, the disciples didn't believe that Jesus rose from the dead because of hard hearts. You must be careful that you don't get to the point in your Christian life where you are always downplaying the works of God. Don't let your hard heart question whether the great number of people who responded to an invitation truly got saved. A heart that is softened towards God will rejoice in what He is doing.
Fourth, a hard heart keeps one from responding to God. In 2 Chronicles 36:13, Nebuchadnezzar wouldn't respond to God because he had a hard heart. The only reason someone will not respond in an invitation is because of a hardened heart. The invitation doesn't reveal the sinner, but oftentimes it reveals those who have hardened hearts. I'm not saying that everyone who doesn't respond to an invitation call has a hard heart, but I am saying a person who never responds to an invitation call has a hard heart. If you have a tender heart towards God and truly want to be more like Him, He will regularly show you areas you need to change. Your heart will determine whether or not you respond.
Do you have symptoms of a hard heart? Instead of looking at others, look at yourself and see if you find any of these symptoms in your life. Those whom God uses the greatest are those whose heart is tender to His voice and His will for their life.