7 Signs of a Hardened Heart, Recognize Them Early

A hardened heart can happen to anyone, from Pharaoh to Jesus’ disciples. In other words, this trait can affect both those who believe and those who do not. 

Why is a hardened heart dangerous for us, people who call ourselves Christians? What are the signs of a heart growing hard that we need to watch out for as early as possible?

The Danger of a Hardened Heart

Have you ever opened a can of glue, but forgotten to close it again? What happens? Of course, the glue hardens and can no longer be used. The same is true of a heart that hardens. God’s word, as well as advice from fellow church members and those closest to that person, can no longer enter that person’s heart.

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your forefathers tested Me by trying Me, even though they had seen My works for forty years. – Hebrews 3:7-9 

God says: do not harden our hearts. This attitude can cause us to lose His promise, His grace, even salvation from Him (Romans 2:5), as happened to the people of Israel. Even though they often saw God’s miracles and were also rebuked many times, they still did not change. In the end, the generation that came out of Egypt could not enter the land God had promised.

Just like glue, our hearts do not simply harden all at once. The process begins as something that seems trivial, but it is left alone until it keeps getting worse. By recognizing the signs, we can deal with this before it is too late. 

The condition of the heart greatly determines the course of our lives. So, examine your own heart: are any of the things below happening to you?

1. A Hardened Heart Begins to Doubt the Truth of God’s Word

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. – Hebrews 13:8

You begin to question whether God will keep His promises, or you take lightly the rebukes of the word and make no effort to obey them. You pick and choose only the parts of the Bible you like to obey, and refuse to do the parts you do not like.

On the other hand, God’s heart remains the same from the time of creation, now, and into the future. Only God’s word can change a person’s heart, including a hardened heart. 

Believe in the truth of God’s word, and have a right view of God’s heart and His plan for our lives. This will keep our hearts soft and ready to receive His word.

2. A Hardened Heart Refuses to Listen to Other People’s Advice

But the Egyptian magicians did the same by their secret arts, so Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to the two of them, just as the LORD had said. – Exodus 7:22

The Bible describes Pharaoh’s hard-heartedness when he repeatedly ignored God’s message through Moses and Aaron for him to stop enslaving the people of Israel. As a result, Egypt was struck with plagues, and Pharaoh lost his firstborn son (Exodus 11:4-6) as well as many of his soldiers (Exodus 14:23-38).

Do you often reject advice from family, spiritual mentors, mentors, leader, or friends? You actually know their advice is right and given for your good, but you prefer your own way. You are not sure your choice aligns with God’s word, but you feel your way is the best. This is one sign of a heart that is beginning to harden. 

Have the humility to listen to and receive advice. Everyone has blind spot— blind spots where we do not realize that what we are doing may be unwise or inappropriate. If several people are giving similar advice, perhaps it is time for you to reconsider your decision / lifestyle / choices. 

Of course, you do not have to follow every piece of advice. We need to carefully discern whose advice, and what advice, contributes positively to our lives. If you know someone’s advice is good, right, and in line with God’s word, do not harden your heart. Receive and act on their input, because that means they care about the good of your life, not that they want to harm you.

3. A Hardened Heart Gets Angry with the Person Who Advises You

Then Pharaoh said to him: “Get away from me; be careful not to see my face again, for when you see my face, you shall die.” – Exodus 10:28

When Moses delivered God’s message for Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go from the land of Egypt (Exodus 7:16), Pharaoh refused and was even angry with Moses. He could not see his own wrongdoing, namely forbidding the people of Israel to worship God, because his heart had already hardened.

Be on guard if you get angry with the person who advises you when you fall into sin. It may be that your heart is starting to become hard. Instead of hardening your heart, learn to be thankful, accept correction, repent, and follow the advice you receive.

4. Refusing to Open Up or Be Helped

And there is plenty of room in our hearts for you, but in yours there is very little room for us. – 2 Corinthians 6:12

People who care about you will try to truly know you. You have a large place in their hearts. Toward you, they are open and do not hesitate to show what is in their hearts. 

Your heart begins to harden when you close off every possibility for them to speak more deeply into your life. Of course, it is very natural if you do not want to talk about personal matters with everyone. However, the hardness of heart meant here is when you shut the door of your heart to anyone at all, including those who care about you.

Learn to open yourself up more. Be vulnerable—to the right people. Let them know what is really going on with you. Tell them your weaknesses or your needs. At first, it may not feel comfortable. But keep trying to talk until you reach the deepest parts of your heart. Surely openness will help you more than only talking about things on the surface.

5. Not Caring About Others

And because lawlessness will increase, the love of many will grow cold. – Matthew 24:12

Not caring means you know there is someone who needs help, but you do not want to help. You shut yourself off and become apathetic. For example, you lead a group because you have the talent to lead. However, because you have experienced one or two rejections from group members, you choose to step down as leader.

When you are ruled by indifference, learn to see God’s heart. Jesus also experienced rejection when He returned to Nazareth (Matthew 13:57). Yet He did not take that rejection personally, but continued to love those who rejected Him.

6. Refusing to Forgive Others

“For if you forgive people their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive people, your Father will not forgive your offenses either.” – Matthew 6:14-15

Forgiving those who hurt us is indeed not easy. However, if you keep finding it difficult to do, it is a sign that your heart is beginning to harden. 

We will not be able to forgive others if we only see their wrongdoing as greater than our wrongdoing against them. But try comparing our sin against God and that person’s sin against us: which is greater? God has forgiven our sins, which are very great and which we have committed many times, so we too must forgive the sins of others.

7. No Longer Fearing God

Therefore I say this and insist on it in the Lord: no longer live as those who do not know God live, with their futile thinking and darkened understanding, separated from the life of fellowship with God because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. 

Their feelings have become dull, so they have given themselves over to lust and greedily practice every kind of impurity. 

– Ephesians 4:17-19

A heart that is beginning to harden can also be seen in the loss of motivation to fight fleshly desires. When you know you have fallen into sin, but instead of regretting it or striving to change, you actually enjoy it, that means your heart is growing harder.

Everyone has sinned. Yet the Lord Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. Only by His sacrifice are we redeemed and given new life. 

Become aware again of God’s love for you, and repent of your sins. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross proves how deeply He loves you. Let your heart grow soft again, becoming a heart that fears God.

A hardened heart can happen to anyone at any time, so be alert to its symptoms early. If you are experiencing the signs of a hardened heart above, immediately take steps to overcome it before it is too late. God bless you!

Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. – Proverbs 4:23

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