Engaging People When the Door to the Gospel Seems Closed

Sometimes, when we try to share our faith, we encounter people who seem completely uninterested. Maybe they’ve politely declined conversations about God, or perhaps they’ve responded with skepticism, quiet apathy, or even direct resistance and refusal. It’s easy to feel discouraged in these moments, wondering if our efforts make any difference or if continuing spiritual conversations will push them further from Jesus. Yet Scripture gives us a hopeful and practical framework for moving forward with patience, wisdom, and love. Take this wisdom and encouragement from these passages as you think about someone you are walking with who seems disinterested in Jesus. 

Paul encourages us in Galatians 6:9 not to “become weary in doing good,” reminding us that a harvest will come “at the proper time” if we don’t give up. Though it is not in the context of evangelism, we can take the wisdom of this passage to be encouraged in patience as we pursue loving God and loving our neighbor. (Mark 12:30-31)

Even when someone expresses disinterest, our steady presence matters. A simple act of kindness, an encouraging word, or a faithful prayer may not seem like much, but these are the seeds God often uses to soften a heart over time.

This perspective is reinforced in 1 Corinthians 3:6–7, where Paul explains that he planted, Apollos watered, but it was God who made the seed grow. Spiritual transformation has never been our job; it has always been God’s. We participate by planting and watering, but He is the one who changes hearts. Even if someone seems closed off today, God may be working in unseen ways that will bear fruit later.

For the last 18 months, I have been consistently praying for a particular friend who is ethnically Jewish and has expressed disinterest in who Jesus actually was. However, I have continued to spend time with him, be generous and caring toward him and his family, and pray for opportunities to bring the Gospel to him. Recently I found out that he has been spending a lot of time with a mutual friend through bike rides. This other guy is also a friend of mine and happens to be a deeply rooted Christian with a genuine and bold faith. Knowing this, I am encouraged that God is working on the heart of my friend in many ways that are unknown to me. 

Because the process is God’s, our posture matters deeply. In 1 Peter 3:15, we’re called to be ready to share the reason for our hope, but always “with gentleness and respect.” Sometimes the most powerful witness is not a perfectly crafted argument but a calm, gracious response that shows we genuinely care about the person more than winning a debate. Listening well, asking thoughtful questions, and speaking with humility helps people encounter the character of God long before they accept the message of the Gospel.

Patience is essential, and God models it for us. In 2 Peter 3:9 we’re reminded that the Lord is patient, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” If God has not given up on the person who seems uninterested, neither should we. Their current response is not the final chapter; God’s timing and desire for their salvation give us confidence to keep praying, caring, and waiting with hope.

Sharing Jesus with someone who expresses disinterest is rarely a quick or straightforward process, but Scripture calls us to a way of faithfulness that doesn’t depend on immediate results. We persevere, trusting that God is working. We respond with gentleness, remembering that each person is deeply loved by Him. And we remain hopeful, believing that the seeds we plant today may one day bear fruit in ways we cannot yet see.

So who in your life might need you to keep planting seeds with patience, prayer, and love? God is already at work—your role is simply to join Him with faithfulness and grace.