God’s Grace: God’s Gift That Meets Us Where We Are
Sometimes, in the midst of the pain, confusion, and uncertainty of separation or divorce, we may wonder, “Where is God in all of this?” The beautiful answer of our Catholic faith is that God is right there—with us, offering us His Grace.
Hello again everyone, and welcome back to our By My Side October monthly reflection. This month, I’d like to talk about something that is at the very heart of our Catholic faith: God’s Grace.
What exactly is Grace?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that grace is the “free and undeserved gift that God gives us to respond to His call to become children of God.” Grace is God’s loving help- His presence working within us and giving us the strength to live the life He calls us to live.
The beautiful thing about grace is that we do not earn it. God gives it to us freely because He loves us. For those of us who have experienced separation and divorce, this can be especially important to remember. There may be days when we feel strong and hopeful, and there may be days when we feel hurt, angry, lonely, rejected, or simply exhausted. We may wonder how we are going to forgive, how we are going to heal, or how we are going to move forward.
God does not ask us to do these things by ourselves. His grace is there to help us. Grace doesn’t necessarily mean that our circumstances will immediately change. It doesn’t mean that the pain will disappear overnight or that every relationship will be restored in the way we would like. Rather, grace gives us the strength to walk through our circumstances with God rather than without Him.
Grace can help us forgive when forgiveness feels impossible. Grace can help us choose patience when we are frustrated. Grace can help us resist bitterness when we’ve been hurt. Grace can help us find hope when our future seems uncertain. And grace can help us recognize that our identity is not defined by our marital status, our past mistakes, our wounds or what another person has chosen to do. Our deepest identity is that we are beloved children of God.
As Catholics, we encounter God’s grace in a very tangible way through the Sacraments. In Reconciliation, we receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. In the Eucharist, we receive Jesus Himself. Through prayer, Scripture, Adoration and the Life of the Church, we continually open our hearts to the grace God desires to give us.
But there is something important we must remember: grace is a gift, but we must cooperate with that gift. We can choose to open our hearts to God each day. We can say, “Jesus, I don’t know how to handle this, but I give it to you. Give me the grace I need for today.”
Notice that we don’t have to ask God for enough grace for the next year, or the next 5 years or the rest of our lives. We can simply ask for today’s grace.
Perhaps today’s grace is the strength to get out of bed. Perhaps it is the grace to forgive, or to set a healthy boundary. Perhaps it is the grace to let go of something we cannot control. Or perhaps it is the grace to simply trust God one more time.
Jesus tells us, “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Corinthians 12:9.) What a beautiful promise for anyone walking through a difficult season of life. So, if you are separated or divorced and wondering how you will get through what lies ahead, remember this: God isn’t asking you to walk the road alone. His grace is available to you, every moment of every day.
Open your heart to Him. Ask Him for the grace you need today. Trust that He knows your wounds and struggles, your hopes and your deepest desires.
And perhaps our prayer can simply be:
“Jesus, I trust you. Give me the grace to live this day with You, to love as You call me to love, to forgive as You call me to forgive and to trust that You are walking beside me.”
As we continue our journey, may we never forget that even when we cannot see that road ahead, God’s grace is already there waiting for us–quietly strengthening us, healing us, and reminding us that we are never truly alone. He is always By Our Side.
Enjoy this beautiful fall month of October, By My Side friends.
Love,
MJ xo
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