Tenderize My Heart, Lord

Tenderize My Heart, Lord

January 27, 2025 Off By Donna Wuerch Noble

While journaling, these words poured out: “Lord, tenderize my heart for others.” Tenderize? Where did that come from? Suddenly, my mind rewound to my childhood kitchen, where Mom stood wielding a meat tenderizer, beating the toughness out of a steak.

Whack after whack, she softened that meat until it was ready for the frying pan — and yes, ready for chicken fried steak smothered in cream gravy. Lord, have mercy! How did we survive eating so much fried food? (Oops, there I go down a rabbit trail!)

But back to my prayer: “Lord, tenderize my heart for others.” That’s what I desire more than anything. With so much division around us — especially when it comes to politics — I see people on both ends of the spectrum.

Some of my friends are elated with the new president and all they hope will be accomplished. Others feel crushed, angry, and fearful for the future. Both groups are so deeply entrenched in their feelings, and the tension seems unbearable at times.

So, when I ask God to tenderize my heart, I’m asking Him to soften me — to make me more like Him. Jesus didn’t avoid people who thought differently than He did. He ate with tax collectors, spoke with Samaritans, and healed those others ignored. He met people where they were, tenderly caring for their hearts without compromising who He was.

I want to be like that. I want to love beyond political lines, past cultural differences, and straight through misunderstandings. I want to feel others’ burdens and offer a bridge of grace where there’s been a chasm of disagreement.

That kind of heart-tenderizing requires God’s hammer — not to beat us down, but to lift us up to a place where our pride, biases and concerns are turned over to God for His loving ways that heal and restore.

So, Lord, tenderize my heart. Make me soft enough to love and strong enough to lead others toward You. Whether someone’s celebrating or mourning, let my hands and my heart be open — just like Yours.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)