Don't Focus on Hardness of Hearts - Focus on the Tenderizing Nature of the Word

by Colleen Tronson

from A Retrospect by J. Hudson Taylor

Hudson Taylor had been ministering to a man in the hospital for many weeks; he had tried to share the Lord with the man but to no avail. He was becoming discouraged and decided that maybe by witnessing to the man, he was causing the man's heart to harden to the Lord. So he decided not to continue to talk to the man and prepared to leave his hospital room without speaking of the Lord.

As he was preparing to leave the room, he had this thought, "Ephraim is joined to his idols, let him alone." He looked at the man, who was very surprised that Taylor had not tried to speak with him, as was his usual practice. Taylor then, with tears, started to share his heart with the man and found him open and receptive to the Lord. The man received the Lord, and Taylor was overwhelmed with joy!

Taylor later reflected on this incident, while working in China:
"I have often thought since then, in connection with this case, and with the work of God generally, that 'He that goes forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.' Perhaps if there were more that that intense distress for souls that leads to tears we would see more of the results we desire. Sometimes while we are complaining of the hardness of the hearts of those we are seeking to benefit, it may be the hardness of our own hearts, and our own feeble apprehension of the solemn reality of eternal things, that could be the true cause of our want of success."

I saw a similar event happen this week, when I had a heavy heart for one dear woman. I was despairing of her ever turning to the Lord, when I just decided to just pull out all the stops and pour out my heart and concern for her soul. Surprisingly, she was receptive, and I think we have made progress! In my mind and heart, I was convicted about being focused on the wrong thing: the hardness of heart, when I should be focusing on the tenderizing nature of the Word of God.