As much as I want my writings to impact others in a positive way, the reader’s mindset is something I cannot control. I may be persuasive and logical, share Biblical evidence, and write using strategies so that my readers should easily connect to experiences, but if they have no desire to connect, to change, or to listen, they just wasted 90 seconds of that day.
Words written on a page or said to someone who feels that they are doing ‘just fine’ with themselves, their situation, and their decisions make no impact. A person cannot relate to the words because they do not see how they apply to them in that moment.
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes…” Proverbs 12:15
No matter how hard we may try, we can only do so much. A person must be willing to listen. Be prepared and be resilient in your pursuit of others. Oftentimes, they will want to argue or put down what you share. They may twist what you are attempting to do from something good, turning it into something spiteful and hurtful.
There is an old adage that says, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” …Or to apply it to today’s writing, “You can lead a person to Scripture, but you can’t make them think.” Does this mean we stop offering them water or the Word of God? Not at all; it just means that we must be prepared for what doesn’t happen at that moment.
Remember, heart decisions are made by each person individually! It can take time, but eventually they will become thirsty for water and start to think about the Word shared with them. When their viewpoint changes, so may their heart’s decisions.
Never give up sharing God’s Word!