“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22).

“Do you expect that God wants to work in your life?”

During his homily on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, my parish priest gently and lovingly looked at his congregation and asked us that question. I sat stunned, automatically thinking, “Yes, of course,” but as the priest continued, I realized, “No, I do not expect that God wants to work in my life.”

The Disconnect

Perhaps this describes you, too, sister: You are immersed in your faith, going to Mass, maybe even attending daily Mass, frequenting the sacraments, and consistent in prayer—and yet, there is a disconnect with God. You are living out your faith but seem to be walking away from the sacraments without fruit.

Maybe, on some level, we think that God only wants to work in certain people’s lives—that God’s grace and mercy is for some people but not for us. That God is wanting to work in some people’s business, organization, or ministry, but our work is not worthy of God’s attention. On an intellectual level, we know that God’s love and mercy is for all of us and that God wants to work in all of our lives. But, somehow, we think we have to earn God’s attention.

You Are Worthy

How often do we chase after promotions, achievements, quotas, or a relationship status, thinking that if we just get this one thing, then we will be worthy in God’s eyes? We are constantly chasing after the next goal, thinking that it will be the thing that makes us happy, where God will work in our life and our work. Maybe something happened in the past that makes you believe that you are unworthy of God’s desire to work in your life. Or, maybe you just feel unworthy and that he is not interested in you. Whatever the reason for this belief, know that you are worthy of God working in your life and your work.

Through the cross, you are forgiven and have been made into a new creation. In the sacrament of Baptism, you were adopted into God’s family. We are worthy. Our business, our organization, our ministry is worthy. Our worth comes from God, our Father, so we are worthy of his desire to work in all aspects of our life, and we can approach him with that expectation. God has placed in our hearts the desire for happiness in the kingdom of heaven; the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that hope “opens up his heart in expectation of eternal beatitude” (1818). God wants us to expect him to want to work in and through our lives.

Let us approach God this week with this expectation. Let this truth pierce our souls and be our foundation: “You are my beloved [daughter]; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). We are his beloved daughters. May you live out this truth and go to him, expecting that he wants to work in your life.

Alexandra (Alex) Harrel resides in Irving, Texas. She is a new student affairs professional within the world of higher education. In her spare time, she loves reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time outdoors. Her favorite prayer is Hail, Holy Queen. You can follow her on Instagram at @2012alexandra.