but I delight in your law.
Calluses have been an issue for me recently.
I used to play competitive tennis. At that time, I had quite a callus on my right thumb from the way I hold the racquet. A couple of weeks ago, I started to play again quite a bit. I ignored the pain in my thumb because I enjoyed playing tennis again so much. Without the calluses, my thumb objected strenuously! OUCH!
Yesterday I had the privilege of leading our church congregation at Cool Community Church in worship. All last week, I spent a lot of time in prayer and practice, working on the music that I felt God wanted us to use to worship him during yesterday’s service. I hadn’t played my guitar much in a number of weeks and I was reminded that calluses develop on the left fingers of a guitar player for a reason. I ignored the pain because I needed to practice. Without the calluses my fingertips objected strenuously! OUCH!
I just looked to the “repository of all knowledge,” Wikipedia, to see what calluses are exactly and how they develop. Not that I don’t already know from experience, but I thought it might be interesting. There wasn’t much information, but what was there was intriguing:
A callus (or callosity) is an especially toughened area of skin which has become relatively thick and hard in response to repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation. Rubbing that is too frequent or forceful will cause blisters rather than allow calluses to form. Since repeated contact is required, calluses are most often found on feet because of frequent walking.
An especially toughened area of skin which has become relatively thick and hard in response to repeated contact.
The callus on my thumb has begun to develop again. Already, enough repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation has caused the thickening and hardening of the skin to develop. The last time I played, I had hardly a thought for my thumb. All the ignoring of the pain served the purpose of developing the callus. Now I can play without pain.
In just a week, by repeated exposure of my left hand fingers to the metal strings of my guitar, playing again and again, the calluses have redeveloped. Yesterday morning, I played through the worship set without any discomfort to my left fingers.
It is amazing how quickly that hardening and thickening can happen.
And so it is with my heart. Last week I mentioned the responses to God’s voice that are evident in Exodus 7. God’s voice is, in many ways, a constant pressure. I am so thankful that I have “repeated exposure” to his voice. He continues to speak.
Yet I have ignored the pain of not obeying him. I have done it enough times now that I can do so with hardly a thought given to the entire thing. YIKES!
It hasn’t taken long to develop a callused heart.
Just as my thumb doesn’t mind the rubbing of the racquet handle any more and my fingers the pressure of the metal strings beneath them on the fret board of my guitar, my heart has sort of…well…adapted…and now I can ignore God’s voice without as much difficulty.
Rather than rejoice in the fact as I do with my thumb and my fingers, I actually want the pain that comes when I sense God’s voice and refuse to obey.
With calluses that are unwanted, there are ways of encouraging the softening of the skin again. One of the things is to no longer ignore the pain of friction, rubbing, pressure, and repeated exposure. The other is to take something to the skin–like oil or lotion–and gently rub it in repeatedly.
Today, I commit not to ignore the pain that is present when I ignore God’s voice. I will also allow his Word to be worked in and through me as I intentionally check in with him today and meditate on memorized verses. I have my watch set for every 15 minutes and I will not let any of those beeps go by without talking to him. Lord, here is my heart again. I want to be softened, tender, and responsive to your touch and your voice.
What will you do today to prevent your heart from being calloused? If you know you have a calloused heart, what practical things can you do to become softened again?
The primary way I notice the hardening of my heart is relative to my eating and drinking. These are a barometer of my relationship with God for me. Are they for you? 🙂
Thank you for this beautiful analogy. I too want my heart to be soft and moldable, not hard and calloused. I especially love how you are setting your watch today to ask Him for a heart that is sensitive to Him. In fact, I like it so well, I am going to do the same. And yes, I can tell just how in tune with Him I am, by how I eat and drink. I so wish that weren't a barometer, but it is. Thanks again for this timely message.
Thank you for this beautiful analogy. I too want my heart to be soft and moldable, not hard and calloused. I especially love how you are setting your watch today to ask Him for a heart that is sensitive to Him. In fact, I like it so well, I am going to do the same. And yes, I can tell just how in tune with Him I am, by how I eat and drink. I so wish that weren't a barometer, but it is. Thanks again for this timely message.
I think having a special verse for my day — or a specific attribute of God to dwell upon — would be a good idea. And then — asking myself, "Am I living today like I REALLY believe that verse or attribute to be true? How should I behave, because I do?" I might have to make that a verse per week and then be dedicated to memorizing it. Hmmmmm — you exhort me to action, Heidi!
I think having a special verse for my day — or a specific attribute of God to dwell upon — would be a good idea. And then — asking myself, "Am I living today like I REALLY believe that verse or attribute to be true? How should I behave, because I do?" I might have to make that a verse per week and then be dedicated to memorizing it. Hmmmmm — you exhort me to action, Heidi!
I know my heart becomes callused when I harden my heart to the Spirit's promptings. The more I harden my heart, the thicker the calluses become. When the calluses become too thick, they want to peel away and the edges can get caught on things, and it hurts! This demonstrates God's grace to me because He uses the pain of the torn callus to get my attention and draw me back to Himself. I'm sure He would rather I didn't have a callused heart in the first place, but He allows me to make the foolish choice to harden my heart to His voice. He never abandones me, though, and welcomes me without condemnation when that torn callus sends me running to Him.For today, I will apply the oil of the Holy Spirit to areas of friction by spending time in His Word, praise, prayer, and reading Chrstian books that help me in my journey.
I know my heart becomes callused when I harden my heart to the Spirit's promptings. The more I harden my heart, the thicker the calluses become. When the calluses become too thick, they want to peel away and the edges can get caught on things, and it hurts! This demonstrates God's grace to me because He uses the pain of the torn callus to get my attention and draw me back to Himself. I'm sure He would rather I didn't have a callused heart in the first place, but He allows me to make the foolish choice to harden my heart to His voice. He never abandones me, though, and welcomes me without condemnation when that torn callus sends me running to Him.For today, I will apply the oil of the Holy Spirit to areas of friction by spending time in His Word, praise, prayer, and reading Chrstian books that help me in my journey.
Heidi I so agree! My heart definately gets more and more calloused by my eating. I'm so excited that you are going through the Thin Within book. I need to start again and I'm looking forward to going through it with you.
Heidi I so agree! My heart definately gets more and more calloused by my eating. I'm so excited that you are going through the Thin Within book. I need to start again and I'm looking forward to going through it with you.
Heidi, You are so blessed with your words. It makes me think and to search in my life the things that have gotten callused but not in a good way. Then to look at how beneficial it can be for me to be callused…thanks for providing food for thought!!Sandy
Heidi, You are so blessed with your words. It makes me think and to search in my life the things that have gotten callused but not in a good way. Then to look at how beneficial it can be for me to be callused…thanks for providing food for thought!!Sandy
Search me and know me Oh God, callouses and all..Lord, I am thankful for Your mercy and compassion that is new every morning!!!!When I think callouses, I think pedicure, and the pumice stone…Lord, don't let my heart get so calloused You have to use that to get them off…
Search me and know me Oh God, callouses and all..Lord, I am thankful for Your mercy and compassion that is new every morning!!!!When I think callouses, I think pedicure, and the pumice stone…Lord, don't let my heart get so calloused You have to use that to get them off…
Hi, Peggy. The watch has worked well for me. How did it work for you?Believerkjk – great idea! I am so glad you feel motivated to action. How has it gone for you in the past day and a half? Any breakthroughs? :-)Hi, Kim. Yes, exactly. That is precisely the progression I feel, too. I hadn't thought of the tearing away of the callus before. Great insight, though. You are right. He doesn't abandon us and he welcomes us with open arms. How did your day go yesterday? How about today? :-)Hi, Firefighter's Wife. I am so glad you are joining us for the study. I look forward to hearing what God shares with you in the days and weeks ahead. :-)Sandy, thank you for your kindness. I hope you sense God's presence with you, delighting over you, even as he brings conviction!LeeAnne – Oh yes. Amen! I love that analogy, too. Thank you for sharing it!You girls are all such an encouragement to me. I feel exhorted to press on, closer in to my Lord and to stay longer…thank you for how you minister to me. Thank you for letting him use you. 🙂
Hi, Peggy. The watch has worked well for me. How did it work for you?Believerkjk – great idea! I am so glad you feel motivated to action. How has it gone for you in the past day and a half? Any breakthroughs? :-)Hi, Kim. Yes, exactly. That is precisely the progression I feel, too. I hadn't thought of the tearing away of the callus before. Great insight, though. You are right. He doesn't abandon us and he welcomes us with open arms. How did your day go yesterday? How about today? :-)Hi, Firefighter's Wife. I am so glad you are joining us for the study. I look forward to hearing what God shares with you in the days and weeks ahead. :-)Sandy, thank you for your kindness. I hope you sense God's presence with you, delighting over you, even as he brings conviction!LeeAnne – Oh yes. Amen! I love that analogy, too. Thank you for sharing it!You girls are all such an encouragement to me. I feel exhorted to press on, closer in to my Lord and to stay longer…thank you for how you minister to me. Thank you for letting him use you. 🙂
Heidi, I see this post was from 2010… not even sure you will get this reply. I am a pastor at a church in Atchison, KS. The Spirit laid the topic of “Callused Hands, Tender Heart” on my heart this week. Many times I’ll do an internet search to see if other people have addressed a similar topic. Often I get helpful insights to provide a richer view to our congregation. That search led me to your post. Just wanted to say thanks for being the assurance to my Spirit that I’m on the right track with this. I too, had already made note of the Wikipedia definition and as a worship leader am very familiar with the pain of developing calluses on my left hand. Your thoughts on “ignoring the pain of God’s voice” really hit home. Thank you. Blessings!
Hi, Pastor Russ. Thank you so much for telling me you found us. Thank you so much for letting me know you were here and how God is using this blog in ways I can never imagine! I am sure your congregation will be blessed. 🙂