A Hard Heart Makes A Soft Behind

September 11, 2023

When I was younger, my mother used to say, “A hard head makes a soft behind.” She meant that if we ignore wisdom and truth, we might face the consequences. It’s a way of saying that life can teach us some tough lessons when we resist what’s right.

As I’ve grown and deepened my Christian faith, I’ve realized that this saying applies not only to stubbornness but also to having a hard heart. Just like a stubborn mindset can lead to trouble, a hardened heart can cause similar problems.

But what exactly is a “hard heart”? Simply put, it’s when someone hears the Word of God but doesn’t let it sink in. Imagine it as seeds falling on rocky or hardened soil, as in Jesus’ parable of the sower and seeds (Matthew 13:4).

In this parable, Jesus explains how there are 4 types of soil.

The Four Types Of Soil

Roadside Soil: Some seeds fell by the roadside, and birds quickly devoured them (Matthew 13:4). This represents people who hear the Word but don’t understand it, allowing doubts and confusion to take root. They become like the hard ground of the roadside, unreceptive to God’s message.
Rocky Soil: The rocky soil signifies those who receive the Word with joy but lack depth (Matthew 13:5-6). Their faith withers away when faced with adversity, much like seeds taking root in shallow ground.
Soil Among Thorns: Another type of soil is among thorns, where people hear the Word but let the cares of this world and the pursuit of wealth choke it out (Matthew 13:7, 22). These distractions make them unfruitful in their spiritual journey.
Good Soil: The parable also introduces good soil, representing those who receive the Word with an open heart (Matthew 13:23). They allow it to take root and bear fruit, signifying a receptive and responsive heart ready to embrace God’s message fully. This soil highlights the potential for spiritual growth and abundance.

So, a hard heart is when you feel confused, and the devil’s whispers begin. It’s when pain, fear, life’s concerns, or the attraction of wealth grip you, preventing God’s message from sinking in.

Bear in mind that a hard heart can be open and accepting in certain areas of God’s Word while remaining resistant and unyielding in others. You might find yourself receptive to most of the Word but less willing to embrace it in sensitive areas of your life.

But here’s the crucial part: If we keep having a hard heart, it can lead to negative consequences, just like a stubborn head can lead to a “soft behind” (troubles). A heart that resists God’s wisdom and guidance can result in a life filled with challenges, unfulfillment, and missed opportunities for growth and transformation.

There Are Various Reasons Behind “Bad Soils”

Stubbornness (resisting change because of sinful ways)
Past hurts (building emotional walls to avoid pain)
Lack of trust (doubting God’s wisdom)
Strongholds (deep-seated sins or addictions)
Conflicting worldviews (believing something different from God’s truth),
Spiritual laziness (just listening without praying or studying further).

Signs You Have A Hard Heart

Saying, “But God,” when faced with the Lord’s word, especially phrases like “You don’t know my past” or “You don’t know what I’m dealing with in my marriage,” indicates resistance to God’s guidance.
Constantly struggling with the same sin issues without seeking God’s help and confessing.
Believing that what the preacher is talking about pertains to everyone except you, showing a lack of personal application and receptivity.
Making excuses to avoid listening, believing, or trusting the Word of God, further hinders your receptivity to His message.

To cultivate good soil where God’s Word can grow, you need to intentionally soften your heart. This means practicing humility, addressing past hurts, seeking healing, trusting God, aligning your beliefs with His truth, and engaging actively with His Word.

In the end, the bird and seeds analogy teaches us that just like hardened soil resists seeds, our hearts can resist God’s Word. However, by choosing humility, healing, trust, and aligning with God’s truth, we can create fertile ground for His Word to take root, grow, and transform our lives. This transformation helps us avoid the “soft behind” of painful consequences that can result from a persistently hard heart