Learning to receive from God isn’t easy. Especially when you’ve spent most of your life giving, helping, and doing. But have you ever had someone’s honesty reach so deep that it softened something inside you?
Years ago, when my son was little, he did something wrong and came to tell me. His words were simple and sincere. He admitted what he’d done, said he was sorry, and promised he’d try to do better. In that moment, my heart overflowed. I pictured a cup filling with oil and spilling over, and I sensed that this is how God wants us to feel when we come to Him – not ashamed or afraid, but honest and willing to receive His grace.
That image has stayed with me ever since. My son’s open heart moved me deeply. He didn’t try to hide, defend, or explain; he simply brought the truth forward. His humility and honesty became a gift that reminded me how much joy it brings to simply come, to be real, to stand before love without walls or excuses.
Learning to Receive from God
Jesus once told His disciples, “…Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” ~ John 16:24 (NIV)
Those words remind us that God isn’t waiting for us to prove ourselves worthy. He invites us to come as we are, to ask, to receive, and to experience joy that flows from His generosity.
For many of us, giving feels natural. We love showing up for the people we care about, finding ways to help, comfort, and serve. It’s an expression of love. Yet when it comes to receiving love in return – whether from God or from others – it can feel unfamiliar, even uncomfortable.
Receiving means allowing ourselves to be cared for, supported, and seen. It means opening our hands when our natural instinct may be to keep pouring out. When we learn to receive from God, we begin to understand that His love is not something we have to earn; it’s something He delights to give.
“…Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” ~ John 16:24 (NIV)
Now You Will See What I Will Do
When God told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do…” in Exodus 6:1, He spoke into a moment when His people couldn’t see how their story would unfold. They had done all they knew to do, yet the outcome still rested in His hands.
We often find ourselves in that same place. We’re caring for others, meeting needs, pouring love into every corner of our lives, and still wondering where God’s hand is moving. But learning to receive from God means pausing long enough to notice what He’s already doing right here, in this moment.
Sometimes we pray for direction or provision without realizing that His work has already begun. The invitation is to slow down and ask, How am I participating in receiving what God is already doing?
Receiving isn’t passive. It’s an act of faith, a quiet agreement with God that says, I trust that You are at work even when I can’t see it yet.
Receiving as a Response of Love
“I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.” ~ Psalm 116:18 (NIV)
When I read those words, I think of gratitude that doesn’t stay private. It’s the kind of thankfulness that naturally moves us to act – to love, to serve, to live in a way that reflects what we’ve already received from God.
I remember that day with my son – the look in his eyes, his small voice filled with honesty. My heart overflowed, not because of what he said, but because of what I saw taking shape inside him. His desire to do better came from love. That moment reminded me of how God’s love for us always stirs a response.
When we receive His mercy, it awakens gratitude. When we recognize His grace, it moves us to extend that same grace to others. The psalmist’s words are a reminder that love received doesn’t end with us; it’s meant to be seen, shared, and lived out among others.
Receiving from God changes the way we move through the world. It fills the places that have been poured out and tenderly restores what has been given away. Out of His love for us, we give thanks. Out of His abundance, we take action for others.
Learning to Receive Through Journaling
One of the ways we can practice receiving is through journaling. When we sit down with our journals, we make space to notice what God is already doing, to write the small ways He’s been near, to reflect on His provision, and to receive His love in the quiet.
Journaling is a way to open your hands and heart, just as my son did that day, and to say, Here I am, Lord.
As you write, take time to reflect on His oil of grace filling your life…restoring, renewing, and overflowing in ways you might not have recognized before.
Reflection Prompts for Your Time with God
- Where have you seen God’s hand at work recently, even in small or quiet ways?
- How might God be inviting you to receive His care instead of trying to manage it on your own?
- How have you seen His love “spill over” into your life lately?
- What does it look like for you to rest in the truth that God delights in you?
An Invitation
If you long to draw closer to God and learn how to journal in a way that helps you receive His love more fully, I’d love for you to join me inside The Journal Workshop. It’s where I’ll walk with you through a guided experience of the method I’ve practiced for over 15 years to help you move from routine to real connection with God.
🖤 Join the waitlist for The Journal Workshop here and take your next step toward learning to receive from Him.
