when the heart grows cold to God's voice

Dear Beloved Church Family,

This is a story from more than twenty-five years ago, during my time studying in Los Angeles, California. One morning, I was having breakfast with friends at a local restaurant near campus. In the middle of our conversation, a tense scene unfolded at a nearby table. A man, perhaps in his fifties, was raising his voice at a young waitress. He appeared deeply frustrated—his face flushed red, his tone aggressive. She had accidentally spilled a drink on his clothes. Clearly shaken, she repeatedly said, “I’m so sorry, sir,” her voice trembling as she tried to make things right. But the man, visibly upset, continued to press her: “I just bought this yesterday. What are you going to do about it? Are you going to pay for the dry cleaning? Call the manager.” The atmosphere in the restaurant quickly grew heavy. Overwhelmed with emotion, the young waitress eventually broke down in tears, apologizing again and offering to pay for the cleaning. Watching this unfold, I felt compelled to step in. I walked over and gently said, “Sir, she has already apologized. That’s enough.” Looking back, I’m not entirely sure where that courage came from. I was aware that the situation could escalate physically if the man reacted violently. However, being in my early twenties and working as a taekwondo instructor at that time, I carried a certain confidence in handling the situation if it did escalate. As I encouraged the man to stop making things worse, he responded sharply, “When did she apologize to me? When!” I stood there, momentarily stunned. She had apologized again and again, yet somehow, he could not hear it. Eventually, the manager came and calmed the situation, and the incident came to an end. Still, that moment has stayed with me all these years.

Here’s the lesson: When the heart grows distant, even the clearest words can become inaudible. The Word of God speaks to this condition with sobering clarity. In Isaiah 6:9–10, the Lord says:“Hear indeed, but understand not; see indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes…” This passage was given during a time of spiritual decline when outward religion remained, but inward devotion had faded. The people were still hearing, but they were no longer listening. They were seeing, but no longer perceiving. Their repeated resistance to God had gradually hardened their hearts. This is not merely a historical warning; it is a present reality for all of us.

If we continually turn away from God’s Word, if we allow our hearts to drift, there may come a time when God still speaks, but we no longer recognize His voice. Like the man in that restaurant, we may find ourselves asking, “When did You speak?” even as His voice has been calling out to us all along. And yet, even within this warning, there is hope. The same chapter in Isaiah reminds us that God preserves a remnant, a holy seed, through whom restoration comes. God’s desire is never to abandon, but to awaken; never to silence, but to restore our hearing. Therefore, let us guard our hearts with humility. Let us remain attentive to His Word. Let us be quick to listen not only with our ears, but with hearts that are soft and responsive. For when the heart is near to God, even a whisper becomes clear. But when the heart is far, even a cry can go unheard. May we be a people who hear and truly listen.

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Won Kim

Lead Pastor of RockSpring Church