Immediately after feeding the five thousand, Jesus told the disciples to go by boat to Bethsaida, which was on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. In the mean time, Jesus stayed behind to pray alone on a mountain. While rowing against the wind in the middle of the sea during the fourth watch of the night (about three or four in the morning), Jesus came walking on the water.
But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened (emphases added, Mark 6:49-52, KJV)
Even after seeing the miracle of the five thousand fed miraculously, they still could not comprehend who He was because of the hardness of their hearts. They allowed the dark, difficult circumstances around them to dictate the softness or hardness of their hearts. In the midst of this passage of Scripture, we find a truth: those with hardened hearts cannot comprehend spiritual matters because they will not consider them. A hardened heart will not believe the things of God.
As believers, this is something that we need to guard our hearts from becoming. We need to make the decision that regardless of how contrary circumstances may be; we will continue to believe God. The reason that some fail to continue walk in peace or live in a state of rest is that they become hardened to the things of God and begin to walk in unbelief. There is a stern warning about hardening our hearts in Hebrews 3:6-12:
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God (KJV).
When dealing with those who do not believe, our call is to walk in love. We should pray that God removes the hardness from their hearts and the veil from their eyes. This way their hearts are softened enough to see and receive the Truth. In the mean time, we continue to walk in the Spirit and maintain a believing heart.
