I’ve had a hard couple of weeks. What about you? Why am I always surprised by the hardships I endure in this world? It’s humbling how hardships always seem to catch us off guard, even when we know the brokenness of this world is inevitable.
Recently, as I read Revelation 16, I found myself wrestling with God’s wrath being poured out. It’s a challenging chapter. In the middle of the devastation described, two sentences leapt off the page:
- “They did not repent and give him glory.” (Revelation 16:9b)
- “They did not repent of their deeds.” (Revelation 16:11b)
As I read, I kept wondering: Why won’t these people turn back to God? Don’t they see what’s happening? Don’t they understand that repentance could save them?
But they don’t. Instead, they dig in their heels, curse God, and endure the consequences.
A Hard Truth About Hard Hearts
To those of us who know God, this response feels incomprehensible. Yet for those whose hearts remain hardened, it makes perfect sense. Their rejection of God reflects a deeper spiritual reality: without the Holy Spirit, they cannot respond to Him.
This realization brought specific faces to my mind—people I care about who don’t yet know the Lord. My heart aches for them as I read, “They cursed the God of heaven.” (Revelation 16:11a).
For anyone to truly repent, they must first know God—not just intellectually but through a heart transformed by His Spirit. Knowledge alone isn’t enough.
Why Don’t They Just Repent?
We are all made in God’s image, which means at our core, we are designed to know Him. Yet pride blinds so many to this reality.
The older I get, the more I’m finding this is the hard truth: People allow their pride and desire for self to harden their hearts so much that God is not welcome. While some may try to convince themselves that God is not real, they were created to know that He is. Sometimes self-delusion is easier than reality. The reality of a sovereign, just God is terrifying to one who lives for self.
Even as believers, we are not immune to this cultural pull toward pride and self-sufficiency. That’s why it’s crucial to guard our hearts. Here are two ways I strive to stay vigilant:
1. Test Everything
I confess: I enjoy social media. I curate my Instagram to only see Christian bloggers, hand lettering artists, watercolor art, and other inspiring content. However, the messages of culture run rampant on social media.
Social media can be a source of inspiration, but it’s also saturated with subtle (and not-so-subtle) cultural messages. Even “Christian” content often carries a message of self-promotion.
Every post, meme, and quote needs to be filtered through Scripture. Does it align with God’s truth? If not, I have to reject it—even when it’s packaged attractively.
Remember, social media thrives on “self”: how many likes, how many comments, how much attention. It’s easy to let these metrics dictate our worth, but they cannot replace God’s Word as our standard.
2. Saturate Yourself in Scripture
I read my Bible almost every single morning. But, do you know what? I can get a few hours into my day and literally forget what I read that morning. If I can’t remember what I read after a few hours, how am I to remember from day to day. All I can surmise is that I MUST be in God’s Word more. When possible, I need it multiple times per day.
Testing everything and consuming God’s Word are my go-to defenses. Pride and self will sneak in. I will fail. I will need to repent (daily). Scripture is my anchor in a world that constantly shifts its definition of truth.
When Pride Sneaks In
Because of the cross, I can come back to the face of my Savior and know I am forgiven. When the hard hits, I can fall to my knees and know that Jesus already paid the price for the sin and brokenness (whether my own sin or the sin of others). While the hard won’t disappear in this world, I can know that my security isn’t here. My security is in the warm, soft, loving arms of my Creator who loved me so much that He saw fit to pursue me.
The Hope Beyond the Hardships
Friend, this hard is only temporary. Because of the cross, we have hope that transcends the chaos around us.
So when life feels overwhelming, read your Bible. Test everything. Connect with a community of believers. And most importantly, fall into the arms of your Savior.
Jesus pursued us with a love so profound that He came as a humble baby and died a sacrificial death. His victory over sin gives us the strength to endure the hard because we know how the story ends.
Hold on to that truth. This hard won’t last forever, but God’s love will.
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