Counting On God’s Grace

Tonia O. Alabi

The season of Christmas is here and we are surely preparing ourselves to celebrate the birth of Christ our Saviour. For me and most adults who are already aging it is more of a time of retrospect and spiritual preparation.

The year 2025 has been really interesting. A year of grace upon grace. When we all look back, we can say that God has been really magnanimous. Despite the harsh economic situation the world is facing people of Faith have great testimonies, even in the face of great tribulations we have testimonies.

It has been a time to look unto God more. Everyone has their own burden to carry, therefore looking up to man many atimes is futile. The Catholic prayer, Novena to St. Joseph, written by Rev. Loius Lallement, S.J helped me to take a deeper look at the life of St. Joseph. The life of St. Joseph the most chaste spouse of our Mother Mary and foster father of our Lord Jesus Christ is a perfect example of one who counted on God’s grace. In the novena, we are required to look at 4 points of Joseph’s life, where he exhibited a dependence on God’s grace.

Firstly, at the Annunciation of Mary’s conception by Angel Gabriel we are told that Joseph pondered on the revelation and never discussed with anyone but His God. He never hesitated on God’s direction even when he had to stand by his betrothed who was carrying a child and purported to be the spouse of the Holy Spirit. “What a mumble jumbo,” a man of the flesh would say but for Joseph he counted on God’s grace to walk the journey with Mary. What uncomfortable situation are you in? What is God saying to you that gives you the courage to keep faith. Count on His Grace and keep walking with Him for His eternal purpose to manifest.

Secondly, St. Joseph lived an interior life. He was focused on spirituality so he was constantly in the state of grace. He worked as a carpenter and was a good one at that, which meant he was successful yet he did not allow his work to distract him or cause him to disobey God’s instruction at any time. Not even when he was to flee with Baby Jesus to Egypt, an unplanned for journey (Matt.2:13). He could give the excuse of having so much work on hand or ask how they would survive in Egypt.  

He surrendered his will and counted on God’s grace. More time spent in the presence of God would do us more good, we would be stronger in our faith and be able to count on His grace in uncomfortable situations. Visits to the Blessed Sacrament are no waste of time but time to move away from distractions. You surely will feel His presence more in your life when you learn to listen to him more.

Thirdly, St. Joseph’s love for Mary was not just of the flesh. He loved her with the love of God. What would you say of a young man who, though disappointed at the circumstance he found his wife to- be but still thought it wise to listen and keep to the instinct telling him not to disgrace her by talking about the issue of her conception to anyone even when he was yet to have any canal knowledge of her.

When our loved ones disappoint us by their action(s) or inaction, what comes to our mind is, “never will I forgive this.” For Joseph, his love for God was beyond his self-pride. He loved Mary with the love of God. That gave the chance for God’s purpose. Counting on God’s grace helps us to persevere in carrying our crosses which may be waiting on God upon a seemingly unending problem. This problem may be from a spouse, a child, a sibling or a dear friend.

The fourth point of reference in the life of St. Joseph is, his love for Jesus. This love was Divine. When we look at Joseph’s experience of caring for the Holy Child, it was an experience of carrying the Cross. Joseph carried Jesus’ cross. God made man to carry His cross. God granted Joseph the grace to carry His cross and Joseph counted on that grace, he carried the Cross to the end. He never grumbled even when the child he so cared for and loved denied him in public as we see in Luke2: 49. He kept his calm and must have assured Mary all is well.

The Novena to St. Joseph is a prayer that teaches us to count on God’s grace without hesitations. All we need do is to submit ourselves to his will. The above example of St. Joseph’s life shows how he helped Jesus to achieve God’s eternal purpose for him coming to live on earth in blood and flesh, and die that you and I may be saved. We, also can help others by carrying a burden till God perfects them for His eternal purpose. It is surely not a piece of cake that is palatable to take but with submission to God’s will we count on His grace to help each other achieve God’s purpose for our lives. We do this by standing in the gap praying for the one in need. This requires patience and perseverance as well as listening to God for, He alone knows His plan for us.

At times the situations may seem hopeless and we may have people who seem to care for us say things to confirm the hopelessness of the situation but as Catholic faithfuls we must stand firm in our faith- that our faith may heal us. Our faithful God will make us victorious as He did for St. Monica the mother of St. Augustine (Doctor of the Church). She waited on God for the redemption of her son Augustine for almost two decades and God rewarded her by not only converting Augustine but also granting her the conversion of her husband and his mother, all in her life time. We know how He rewarded Abraham for his faith. All these people counted on God’s grace.

Let us count on God’s infinite mercy and grace to see us through what may be the sore points of our lives, be it a member of our family or our relationship or even our career, and trust He would at the due time answer our prayers and even bless us more.

I am counting on God’s grace and trusting that victory is mine for I am a Winner in Christ. You can be a Winner in Christ. Have a Merry Christmas and see you in a more glorious 2026.