Sent Into Resistance: Why Faithfulness Still Matters When the Message Isn’t Welcomed
Pastor Victoria Sowell
Saying yes to God often begins with clarity and conviction, but it rarely stays there. The moment someone decides to live with open hands, available and willing, the path forward usually becomes less predictable. What follows is not always affirmation or visible success, but resistance, misunderstanding, and unanswered questions. Click the link above for the full message. This tension is not a sign that something has gone wrong; it is often evidence that something meaningful is happening beneath the surface.
The Scriptures are honest about this reality. Being sent by God does not come with a promise of ease or universal acceptance. Again and again, the story shows faithful people stepping into assignments that stretch them beyond comfort and into places where obedience costs something. This is not accidental. Resistance is woven into the calling itself, shaping both the messenger and the hearer in ways that comfort never could.
What follows is an exploration of that theme: what it means to stay faithful when the response is slow, muted, or even hostile. It is an invitation to rethink success, to examine the posture of the heart, and to trust that God’s purposes are still unfolding, even when they are hard to measure.
The Call to Be Sent Starts With Availability
At the center of the biblical narrative is a simple but weighty question: Who will go? The invitation is not framed around credentials, readiness, or strength. It is framed around willingness. Availability becomes the starting point, not expertise or confidence.
Isaiah’s response in Isaiah 6 captures this posture clearly. After encountering the holiness of God and receiving forgiveness, he says, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8, NIV). His yes is not rooted in self-assurance, but in trust. He is compelled by who God is, not by what the assignment might require of him.
This order matters. Isaiah’s willingness flows out of revelation and repentance, not ambition. He does not volunteer because the task sounds appealing. He responds because he has seen God rightly and understands that obedience is the only fitting response. Availability, in this sense, is not passive; it is deeply formed by awe and humility.
When availability becomes the goal, the question shifts from “Am I capable?” to “Am I willing?” That shift reframes the entire journey. It opens the door to places that feel unfamiliar, and sometimes unwelcome, but necessary for growth and faithfulness.
Being Sent Does Not Mean the Assignment Will Be Easy
One of the most sobering parts of Isaiah’s calling comes immediately after his willingness is expressed. God does not soften the reality of what lies ahead. Instead, He describes a mission marked by resistance, misunderstanding, and hardened hearts.
In Isaiah 6:9–10, God says:
“Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.”“Make the heart of this people calloused;
make their ears dull
and close their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.” (NIV)
This is not language of quick wins or visible fruit. Isaiah is told plainly that many will hear his words without responding to them. The assignment is not framed around results, but around faithfulness.
This moment confronts a common assumption: that obedience will be rewarded with ease or affirmation. Scripture does not support that idea. Instead, it presents a more complex picture where obedience often leads directly into challenge. The clarity of the call does not eliminate the difficulty of the road.
Understanding this early matters. When resistance comes, it can be tempting to assume something has been misheard. Isaiah’s story shows that resistance can be part of the assignment itself, not a deviation from it.
Resistance Is Not a Sign of Failure
Resistance has a way of feeling personal. When words are ignored or misunderstood, it is easy to internalize the response as failure. Yet the biblical story repeatedly reframes resistance as a normal, even expected, part of faithfulness.
Jesus prepares His followers for this reality. In Luke 10:16, He says, “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me” (NIV). Rejection, in this sense, is not ultimately about the messenger. It reveals something deeper about the heart of the listener.
Isaiah’s calling reminds us that success in God’s economy is measured differently. Faithfulness is not determined by immediate outcomes or visible affirmation. It is determined by obedience sustained over time, even when the response is discouraging.
This perspective frees people from carrying responsibility that was never theirs. The call is to speak, to go, to remain present. The response belongs to God and to the hearer. Resistance does not cancel the mission; it clarifies it.
Why Resistance Shapes Us More Than Ease Ever Could
Every meaningful story includes opposition. Without resistance, growth would be shallow and victories would feel hollow. Scripture reflects this reality with honesty, showing how resistance reveals character and deepens dependence on God.
Comfort and convenience have a way of keeping life small. They offer safety, but they rarely produce transformation. Resistance, on the other hand, exposes motivations, refines faith, and forces reliance on God rather than on predictable outcomes.
Isaiah’s life unfolds over decades, not moments. His calling is not about a single bold declaration, but about long-term perseverance. Resistance sharpens his trust and sustains his obedience long after the initial encounter fades.
This pattern repeats throughout Scripture. Those God uses are rarely shielded from difficulty. Instead, difficulty becomes the context in which God’s faithfulness is displayed. Resistance is not the enemy of growth; it is often the soil in which it takes root.
When Following God Feels Uncomfortable or Unclear
There are seasons when obedience feels disorienting. The clarity that once marked the call gives way to questions and discomfort. In those moments, it can be tempting to assume that something has gone wrong.
Yet discomfort does not mean disobedience. Often, it means movement. Growth rarely happens within the boundaries of what feels familiar or controllable. New territory almost always comes with uncertainty.
When following God feels unclear, the invitation is not to retreat, but to trust. Trust that God is guiding beyond what is known, into places where dependence deepens and faith matures. This is where change happens, even when it is slow and unseen.
Isaiah’s story reminds us that obedience is not sustained by constant clarity, but by consistent trust. The absence of ease does not indicate the absence of God. Often, it signals His nearness in shaping something deeper.
Hearing Without Listening: A Subtle but Dangerous Pattern
One of the most challenging aspects of Isaiah 6:9–10 is its focus on familiarity without response. The people hear the words, but they do not listen. They see God’s activity, but they do not perceive its meaning.
This distinction matters. Hearing is passive. Listening requires response. Scripture consistently warns against the danger of exposure to truth without obedience.
This pattern is easy to recognize in everyday life. Instructions can be heard without being followed. Information can be received without being applied. Over time, this gap creates frustration and distance.
Spiritually, the consequences are more severe. Familiarity with God’s Word without responsiveness slowly hardens the heart. Truth is present, but transformation is absent. What begins as resistance often ends as indifference.
A Picture of Resistance From Everyday Life
Resistance does not always look dramatic. Often, it appears in ordinary moments where compliance is delayed or avoided. Instructions are understood, but action does not follow.
This dynamic mirrors the way people sometimes relate to God. The message is clear. The invitation is understood. Yet something inside resists change. The issue is not comprehension, but willingness.
God’s patience in these moments is striking. He continues to speak, to guide, and to invite. He does not abandon His people because of their resistance, but He also does not ignore it. Over time, unaddressed resistance shapes the heart.
Isaiah’s mission unfolds within this tension. He is sent to people who already know the truth, yet refuse to respond. His calling is to keep speaking, trusting God with the outcome.
God Honors Free Will Without Relinquishing His Purpose
Scripture is clear that God invites obedience, but does not force it. Relationship, by nature, requires choice. This reality is seen throughout the biblical story, including in moments of prolonged resistance.
In Exodus 7, Pharaoh repeatedly refuses to release the Israelites despite clear demonstrations of God’s power. Exodus 7:13–14 says, “Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them… Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go” (NIV).
This account shows that God allows people to resist Him, even when the consequences are costly. Obedience cannot be coerced. Love requires response, not obligation.
This same freedom applies today. People can hear truth repeatedly and still choose their own way. God respects that choice, even as He continues to call and invite. The responsibility to respond rests with the hearer.
Why Jesus Quoted Isaiah So Often
Isaiah 6:9–10 appears repeatedly in the New Testament. Jesus quotes it in Matthew 13 when explaining why He teaches in parables. These stories both reveal and conceal truth.
Parables invite curiosity and reflection. They draw in those who are open and willing, while allowing others to remain unchanged. This is not about withholding truth, but about requiring engagement.
Jesus explains that some hear but do not understand because their hearts are resistant. The issue is not access to truth, but posture toward it. Parables expose readiness, not intelligence.
This reinforces Isaiah’s message. Truth demands response. Where there is openness, understanding grows. Where there is resistance, familiarity increases without transformation.
When Rejection Redirects the Mission
Resistance does not stop God’s purposes. Often, it redirects them. The Apostle Paul references Isaiah 6 in Acts 28 after facing rejection from Jewish leaders.
He says, “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen” (Acts 28:28, NIV). This statement carries both grief and hope.
Rejection becomes a turning point, not an endpoint. God’s mission continues, expanding to those who are ready to receive it. Faithfulness opens doors in unexpected places.
This pattern is consistent throughout Scripture. When one group resists, another responds. God’s Word continues its work, unhindered by human refusal.
God’s Word Is Never Wasted
One of the most comforting assurances in Scripture comes later in Isaiah’s writings. After decades of faithful service, Isaiah records God’s promise about His Word.
Isaiah 55:10–11 says:
“As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth…
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (NIV)
This promise reframes faithfulness entirely. Results may be delayed or invisible, but the Word is always active. It accomplishes God’s purposes in ways that are often hidden from view.
For the hearer, this passage invites trust. Transformation may not be immediate, but it is possible. God’s Word works patiently, persistently, and effectively.
Freedom From Measuring Outcomes
For those who carry responsibility easily, this promise brings relief. Effectiveness does not depend on skill, clarity, or reception. God does not ask His people to manufacture results, only to speak and obey.
Isaiah was not commissioned with a promise of visible success. He was commissioned with a call to faithfulness. That distinction matters.
When outcomes are released into God’s hands, obedience becomes lighter. The pressure to control results fades. Courage grows, even in resistant spaces.
This freedom allows people to remain present without becoming discouraged. Faithfulness becomes sustainable, even when affirmation is absent.
Staying Sent in Ordinary Places
Being sent does not always look dramatic. Often, it unfolds in everyday spaces: relationships, workplaces, neighborhoods, and routines. These ordinary contexts are where resistance is most commonly encountered.
Faithfulness in these spaces requires patience. Progress is slow. Responses are mixed. Yet this is where trust deepens and obedience matures.
Isaiah’s story reminds us that being sent does not guarantee receptivity. It guarantees opportunity. The call is to remain available, present, and faithful.
Outcomes belong to God. Obedience belongs to His people. Staying sent means continuing to show up, even when the response is uncertain.
Cultivating a Heart That Responds
Isaiah’s message is not only for messengers, but for hearers. Repeated exposure to truth without response shapes the heart over time. Neutrality is not an option.
Hebrews 12:25 warns, “Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the one who is speaking” (NIV). Listening, in this sense, requires action.
Soft hearts are cultivated intentionally. Humility, repentance, and responsiveness keep the heart open. Familiarity without obedience leads to resistance, often quietly.
The issue is not hearing God speak. The issue is remaining unchanged by what He says. This warning invites reflection, not fear.
Faithfulness That Outlives Immediate Results
Isaiah’s life demonstrates that faithfulness often extends beyond visible fruit. His calling spans decades, not moments. The impact of his obedience reaches far beyond what he could see.
This long view challenges modern expectations. Quick results and measurable outcomes are not the primary indicators of success in God’s kingdom. Perseverance is.
Faithfulness that outlives immediate affirmation becomes a testimony in itself. It declares trust in God’s purposes, even when they are hidden.
Resistance does not diminish that testimony. It strengthens it.
Living With a Bigger Vision
There is an invitation woven through Isaiah’s story to aim higher than what can be measured or controlled. Obedience fueled by trust creates space for God to work beyond human limitations.
A.W. Tozer once wrote, “God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible. What a pity that we plan only the things we can do by ourselves.” This perspective reframes ambition.
Resistance and dependence become the context for miracles. When outcomes are surrendered, God’s power is made visible in unexpected ways.
This vision invites courage. It calls people to say yes again, even when the path is costly.
Further Reading
The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-cost-of-discipleship-dietrich-bonhoefferPracticing the Way by John Mark Comer
https://www.johnmarkcomer.com/practicing-the-way
Other Links
Want to hear more? Check out last week’s message titled, Who Will I Send? on YouTube from View Church
Explore additional teachings, studies, and tools at https://www.viewchurch.co/resources