How does God prepare His people to receive His grace?

God often prepares His chosen people to receive His grace by leading them to a point of utter helplessness, much like the widow in Zarephath who faced imminent starvation (1 Kings 17:12). This preparation involves revealing the futility of self-reliance, compelling individuals to recognize their need for God's intervention. Such experiences foster a posture of humility and dependence on the Lord. Once they are aware of their need, God often sends a messenger, as He did with Elijah, to share the message of grace. The widow's transformation illustrates how, through acknowledgment of her inability to provide for herself, she was positioned to receive the abundant grace God poured out to sustain her and her household.