Let God Crack a Hardened Heart.

I would hear these familiar words from my dad more during the Christmas season than at any other time.

“Hey Tim. How about some pecans?”

I knew he meant for me to grab the pecan cracker and the wooden bowl of pecans. We were about to have a treat. Our rubber band powered pecan cracker did a pretty amazing job of cleanly cracking the hard pecan shell, allowing us to enjoy the tasty nut inside.

Today’s image of that old inertia pecan cracker reminds me that my hope during this Christmas season lies on someone bigger than me.

John Mark tells us the account of a time when Jesus’ disciples forgot for a brief time that their hope lay in someone bigger than them.

Jesus previously fed over 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. After feeding the thousands, the disciples collected twelve baskets full of leftovers. Later in their journeys, Jesus and His disciples found themselves in another food shortage situation.

This time, Jesus fed 4,000 with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. Upon finishing the meal, the disciples collected seven baskets full of leftovers. After a brief encounter with a few disagreeable Pharisees, Jesus and His disciples climbed into their boat and pushed off.

Wouldn’t you know it? The concern for food popped up again.

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Seems the disciples had forgotten to replenish the bread supplies. John Mark tells us they got in the boat and realized they only had one loaf among all of them. As they talked among themselves about their quandary, Jesus caught their attention.

¹⁷ And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸ Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” ²⁰ “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” ²¹ And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:17-21, ESV)

We are often a lot like the disciples.

We read in the Bible that God loves us and wants the best for us. (Romans 8:28) We also see His unchanging love for His people throughout the many accounts of God’s provision. Even today, we woke to experience a day that the creator of all can only provide.

By the end of the day, there’s a good chance we will have occasionally forgotten to recognize God’s goodness. We may need to crack and shed a hardened heart more times than we’d like to admit over the course of our lives. If you’ve placed your trust in Jesus, you will readily shed that hardened heart to reveal the new heart He has given each of His children.

Jesus asked His disciples, “Do you not yet understand?”

You may hear Him ask you the same question. “What will your response be?”

Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.