And He replied: Go say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. Dull the minds of these people; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back and be healed.    Isaiah 6:9-10 HCSB

Have you ever tried to witness to someone who just doesn’t seem to get it? Maybe they were once on fire for Jesus, but their fire has gone out. Maybe they have been hurt by the church of have lost that one person who was their spiritual leader. Whatever the reason, you may have felt that you have talked to them at great length only to find that it did no good.

In our Scripture passage today, the Lord is trying to warn the Israelites that He is fed up and they will be facing judgment if they don’t repent and stop their evil ways. Isaiah answers the call to get God’s message out to the people.

God warns Isaiah that they won’t listen. God is telling Isaiah he will not succeed.

In the book of Exodus, we read over and over about how Pharaoh hardened his heart, and the Lord also hardened his heart. If we reject God or turn away from God, there will come a point of no return. There will come a time when God has had enough, and He will turn us over to our own evil desires (Romans 1:18-25).

Are you witnessing to someone who just doesn’t seem to get it? Have you literally talked till you are blue in the face to them about God’s great love only to have them disregard you?

When you truly love someone and notice them seeing but not perceiving and hearing and not understanding, it’s frustrating as well as frightening. No Christian wants to see anyone go to hell, much less someone they love and care deeply for.

So, what are we to do? Do we just give up? Well, I think we have to consider our audience. When we witness to a total stranger and that person rejects us it’s easy to move on. Jesus said in Matthew 7:6 not to give what is holy to the dogs or cast your pearls before swine. In Matthew 10:14, Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.”

We must understand that those who reject the Lord will be given over to evil behavior. We have all been there prior to salvation. In 1 Thessalonians 5:22 we are told to stay away from every kind of evil.

If you have tried your best to witness to someone and talked till you are blue in the face and done your best to model a godly life before them, it may be time to walk away. It may be time to pray that you have planted a seed and someone else will come along and water it.

I know this is difficult with someone you love. There have been many cases where I have wished that I could just beat them over the head with my Bible and knock some sense into them, but this isn’t how God tells us to do it.

We are to imitate Christ (Ephesians 5:1). Our witness can be silent when we simply show them what a life lived in Christ looks like. We can talk to them in love, but we can’t force them to turn to God. And when someone tells you, “All we can do at this point is pray for them.” Understand this, prayer is a mighty powerful tool. We are told in James 5:16 that the urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.

If you have talked till you are blue in the face and they still don’t get it. Talk to God about it. Turn it over to Him. Be fervent in your prayer and pray with faith. Your prayers just might save their eternal life.

Have a great day!