There was a girl in high school that I really liked. I would actually say I thought I loved her. It was one of those “just friends” type of things. Just when I would get up the courage to tell her my feelings she would end up dating someone else or get asked to a dance by someone else, etc. We were good friends but truly I just wanted to love her.

I’m pretty sure she knew all along.  I used to say she was my “Winnie Cooper” (Wonder Years). She certainly did not act like she didn’t want to love me back. She definitely enjoyed the way I treated her. She definitely showed some feelings and expressed some feelings. It broke her heart that I didn’t ask her to the Prom, etc. I did finally tell her, we kind of started to date but nothing ever really came of it.

So why didn’t it work out? Well, it all comes down to receptivity. She was willing to accept my love to the extent that it made her feel good and was safe, but she did not want to receive my love fully. That’s how love works, it has to run two ways. There really is no other way about it. If the other person isn’t receptive, then then will never experience the fullness of your love. The love is there, it’s available, but it is not being received and therefore not being experienced to the fullest.

It is the same with God’s grace. We often don’t seem to get the point of grace. God’s Grace is not some invisible force-field that will protect us from all of life’s ills and attract only good fortune to our lives. Grace rather is an outpouring of God’s love into our lives to help us navigate the back roads of life. It helps strengthen us when facing struggle. It helps us to know the right thing to do in a situation. It is what allows us to see God in all things and accept his will.

I often hear people complain that God’s grace hasn’t been sufficient for them. If you do not feel like God’s grace has been sufficient for you, it is not a lack on His part. Rather, it is a problem either with your receptivity or your availability to it. No, we do not have to earn grace and that is not what this is about. Grace is indeed a “free and undeserved gift of God.” (CCC)

We do however need to be receptive and available to God’s grace. Even though, that grace is indeed always working on our behalf.

If you go through life ignoring God, or not praying, not spending time with him and not receiving the Sacraments – then you cannot expect to experience the fullness of His Grace. Because you have not fully received it, you have not allowed his grace into your life.

If you feel that God’s grace has not been sufficient for you, take some time to examine your current state with these questions:

1. Am I praying regularly? Am I allowing God to be a part of my daily struggles by taking them to him in prayer?
2. Am I receiving the Sacraments regularly and with an open heart(especially Eucharist and Reconciliation)?
3. Are you actively looking for the ways in which God’s grace is working in and around you?

There are no wrong answers – but I think your honest and heart felt answers to these questions will give you a hint as to what you need to do in order to change your ability to receive more of God’s grace into your life.

I know in my own life I have often found myself feeling a little bit hopeless, only to realize that I have not been doing my part in this love relationship with God. He is constantly pouring more and more grace out into our lives – we just have to learn how to receive it.

“My Grace is sufficient for you.”

##

Tweet This Post

Related posts:

1. Is Grace Sufficient? PUBLISHER’S NOTE: I’m excited to note that this is the...
2. How Has Grace Been Sufficient for You? I have countless stories of my own on how I...
3. Living Gracefully in 20.10 Happy Belated New Year and of course a very Holy...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.