When God Lets Go...
- Heather Edmund
- Aug 7
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 9
The Point of No Return for a Hardened Heart
What happens when we ignore God one too many times?
We like to believe God’s mercy is endless—and yes, He is slow to anger and rich in love. But Scripture also shows us a sobering reality, when we repeatedly reject His truth, choose our own way, and silence His voice in our hearts, there comes a moment when He steps back… and lets us go.
The Tragic End of Resisting God
Think of the Israelites in 1 Samuel 8:4–8. They begged for a human king like the nations around them—without realizing they were subconsciously, unknowingly, or even knowingly rejecting God as their true King.
God, who knows the true intentions of the heart (1 Samuel 8:8; Jeremiah 17:10), was able to see their real motive for desiring a king over Him.
Even after He warned them about what a human king would demand from them, what would be taken from them, and how it will cause them to cry out for God's intervention (1 Samuel 8:9–22), they still preferred that over God's leadership.
This must have been painful for God.
Being rejected by those you love is undoubtedly hurtful (Ezekiel 6:9). Unlike Satan, who compels and forces us against our will, God, who is Sovereign and capable of transforming hearts (Romans 9:17–18; 1 Samuel 10:9; Proverbs 21:1; Exodus 4:21, 7:3), could have prevented their hearts from turning away from Him. But He allowed them to have what they desired.
Scripture reveals a hard truth: persistent rebellion leads not only to consequences but to a frightening point where God gives us what we want, even when it leads to our destruction.
This is seen across both the Old and New Testaments. It’s not that God delights in judgment, but that human hearts can become so hardened that God allows them to walk the path they’ve chosen—sometimes never to return.
In Exodus, God hardens Pharaoh’s heart—but not before Pharaoh had already hardened it himself by resisting God's instructions over and over (Exodus 5:2, 7:13–14, 8:15, 8:32, 9:7, 12). And by the time of the seventh plague, Pharaoh’s rebellion is sealed. He is no longer simply resisting God—he becomes a living example (Exodus 9:16).
Like Proverbs 29:1 says,
“Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.”
Pharaoh's judgment wasn't arbitrary. It was a response to repeated choices—and a warning for us all.
Isaiah’s prophetic call in Isaiah chapter 6:10 may seem confusing at first. God tells him to preach—but warns the people won’t listen. Why?
“Make the heart of this people calloused… Otherwise they might see with their eyes… and turn and be healed.”— Isaiah 6:10 (NIV)
This Scripture is showing how God’s judgment on Israel wasn’t just through exile or enemies—it was spiritual blindness. Like Pharaoh, their repeated rejection hardened their hearts. Eventually, God allowed them to become spiritually deaf and blind.
This same passage is quoted by Jesus (Matthew 13:14–15), John (John 12:40), and Paul (Acts 28:26–27) is reminding us that pride results in spiritual deafness and blindness, and it's not merely a symptom but also a sentence.
Humanity’s downward spiral doesn’t begin with God's wrath—it begins with rejecting God’s truth (Romans 1:24-28). And Paul further warns that rejecting truth opens the door to deception (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11)
God’s heartbreak over Israel is captured in Psalm 81: 11-12
“But my people would not listen to me… So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.”— Psalm 81:11–12 (NIV)
This isn’t what God wants, but it’s what people choose. Base on Scripture, He will never force obedience.
When the heart refuses to yield, eventually He lets go.
If we're honest, we’ve done this too. How many times have we chosen something else over God? Choosing to entertain ourselves, browse social media, hang out with friends, or do anything else instead of reading His Word, praying, or spending time with Him?
We’ve rejected Him for comfort, distraction, and temporary pleasure, even after He speaks to our hearts.
Anytime we put something or someone in God's place in our hearts or lives, we are rejecting Him.
If God has been speaking to your heart—through conviction, Scripture, or circumstances—do not ignore His voice.
His mercy is great, but so is His justice.
Rebellion might seem like not a big deal, but over time, it builds a solid barrier between us and the truth and opens the door to deception and our hearts being seared (1 Timothy 4:2).
God doesn't harden hearts arbitrarily, He affirms what people consistently choose. The story of Pharaoh, among others, reminds us that the greatest judgment isn't only His wrath, it's also when God let's us go.
The good news is that as long as you are alive and feel the pull of conviction, grace is available. So, allow God to soften your heart, enabling you to humble yourself and listen when He speaks.
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When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, His Spirit becomes one with yours. This is one of the greatest blessings of salvation. You no longer need to go through anyone else to reach God—because you and He are now united.
All you need to do is receive the gift of salvation by repenting of your sins, inviting Jesus into your life, and confessing Him as Lord. This involves acknowledging your sin and the need for forgiveness, believing that Jesus died for your sins and rose again, and then surrendering your life to Him.
As Romans 10:9 declares, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” And 1 John 4:15 assures us, “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.”
Another important step is to renounce the kingdom of darkness. By doing so, you are breaking any covenant or partnership with it and recommitting yourself to the Kingdom of Light—Jesus Christ.
When you take this step, you are saved and welcomed into God’s Kingdom—becoming a member of the family of Christ!
Here's a Prayer that you can pray to get saved:
"Jesus, I confess that You are Lord, and I believe in my heart that You died and rose again for my sins. I know that I am a sinner, and I repent and ask for Your forgiveness. I invite You to come into my heart and life, and I receive You as my personal Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Renounce the Kingdom of Darkness
Right now, I renounce and break all ties, covenants, and agreements with the kingdom of darkness, knowingly or unknowingly made. I reject Satan, all his works, and every influence of evil over my life.
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Lead me, teach me, and establish me in Your purpose. From this day forward, I belong to Jesus. I am a child of God, and I walk in the light. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
After this step, pray for guidance to find a ministry where you can grow spiritually, gain knowledge about the kingdom, and begin living the abundant life promised by Jesus.
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