Morning Prayer: Why We Harden Our Hearts

 


Psalm 95 pleads, “Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah.”

It’s a line that pierces through centuries, because stubbornness—spiritual or emotional—isn’t ancient history. It’s a living condition.

We all know what it feels like to resist what we already know is true. To look away from grace we’ve seen, to close the door on conviction, to pretend we didn’t hear the whisper of God. Why do we do it?

1. Fear of Change

To soften the heart means to let something in—and that something might rearrange everything. People harden their hearts when they sense that obedience will cost them comfort, reputation, or control. It’s easier to stay the same than to surrender to transformation.

2. Pride and Self‑Protection

Stubbornness often masquerades as strength. We tell ourselves, “I’m fine. I don’t need help.” But pride is a fragile armor. It keeps us from admitting weakness, from receiving mercy, from saying, “I was wrong.” The hardened heart is a shield against humiliation—but it also blocks healing.

3. Disappointment and Cynicism

When prayers seem unanswered or suffering feels unfair, the heart can calcify. Disappointment whispers, “Don’t trust again.” Cynicism says, “You’ve seen enough.” People turn away not because they haven’t seen God’s deeds, but because they’ve seen pain and can’t reconcile the two.

4. Habitual Resistance

Sometimes stubbornness isn’t dramatic—it’s quiet repetition. A person hears truth, nods politely, and goes back to routine. Over time, repetition becomes rebellion. The heart grows calloused not from one act of defiance, but from years of small refusals.

5. The Illusion of Independence

Modern life celebrates autonomy: “Follow your own path.” But spiritual independence can become isolation. When people believe they can navigate life without divine guidance, they stop listening. The heart hardens not out of hatred, but out of self‑sufficiency.

6. Unresolved Wounds

A wounded heart often becomes a guarded heart. If someone has been betrayed, judged, or shamed in the name of faith, they may close themselves off to God’s voice. Healing requires vulnerability—and vulnerability feels dangerous when trust has been broken.

The Invitation to Soften

Psalm 95 doesn’t condemn; it invites. It reminds us that God’s deeds are not just ancient miracles but daily mercies—sunlight, forgiveness, breath, renewal. To soften the heart is to notice again, to let gratitude thaw resistance, to let humility make space for grace.

Hardness is a choice; tenderness is a miracle. And every day, we are offered both.


Read more Morning Prayer posts: MSI Press Blog

Note about Morning Prayer: Each morning prayer post reflects on one phrase from the Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. which can be found in the iBreviary (a downloadable app), Universalis (website) or Divine Office (publication and website). Post may be assisted by AI in image generation and content (research and/or wording).


Morning Prayer posts inspired by Being Catholic in Troubled Times (Dennis Ortman)


Book Description:

These are times that try our souls. This book is addressed to all, not just Catholics, who search for deeper meaning in tough times. Our age is marked by division and alienation. We long for some message that will bring peace to our world and our hearts.

This book suggests that the Catholic faith can provide strength in these troubled times. The word "catholic" means "all-embracing, universal." Nothing is excluded in the catholic mind. The truth that sets us free can be found everywhere, especially in unexpected places. It is often hidden in plain sight. In our darkest moments, we find new light and life. When we are most despairing, a ray of hope shines through.



Dr. Dennis Ortman, former priest and current psychologist, is the author of Anger Anonymous, Anxiety Anonymous, Depression Anonymous, Being Catholic in Troubled Times, and Life, Liberty, and COVID-19.


For more posts by and about Dennis and his award-winning books, click HERE.



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