I recently read the parable of the sower in Mark chapter 4 from The Message Bible. Here is one thing that really encouraged me:

It says the farmer plants the Word, and it fell on hard soil (hard heart), gravel (not grasping it fully), weeds (choking fear and worry) and finally good ground (accepts it and is transformed by it).

You would think a farmer (God) would know better than to throw seed (His word) in the soil of our heart that is three times less likely to produce abundant fruit. But God who is full of  mercy and hope, plants His seed (releases His promises) in the ground of our hearts anyway because He loves us passionately and fully believes in faith that we will catch the seed that was sent to create a life altering effect on our thinking, attitude and behavior.

So no matter your heart condition, be encouraged that God will keep planting in your life until your heart is ready to receive all that he has for you.

~ Rick Probst