Inner Conflict and the Elusiveness of Divine Grace
According to religious beliefs, constant dwelling in a state of grace and love is impossible due to the internal struggle with sinful passions that hinder the establishment of complete spiritual union with God. Even if grace can be bestowed through the sacraments and the sufferings of Christ, a person who harbors passions—such as excessive self-love or an inclination toward sinful behaviors—unwittingly opposes love for God and for their neighbor. As noted in one of the sources:"Every passion is sinful, each one directed against love, against God. When a person harbors any passion, they are always in conflict with the love for God and for their neighbor, breaking that union. Therefore, as long as we cultivate these passions within ourselves, the visitation of God’s grace is impossible for us, a meeting with Christ unattainable, as is union with the Kingdom of Heaven." (source: link txt)Thus, although suffering and sorrow may purify a person and bring them closer to God, they also attest to the continued state of inner disintegration and the inevitable presence of sin. This inner struggle, as a consequence of sin, deprives the believer of the ability to dwell in complete, constant grace and love. To draw closer to this grace, one must overcome one’s own passions and, with every trial experienced, strive for the purification of the soul—yet complete union with God remains the result of a long and unceasing spiritual journey, necessitating constant repentance and a continual battle against temptation.Furthermore, as stated in another source, "Active and passive states, on the contrary, indicate inner disintegration: they are the consequences of sin." (source: link txt) This emphasizes that any kind of active or passive spiritual state reflects the ongoing inner conflict in the soul that prevents a perpetual state of grace.In conclusion, from a religious standpoint, the constant presence of grace and love for the believer is unattainable, since the human soul is continuously under the influence of sinful passions and must overcome internal contradictions—making the state of constant grace transient and one that requires persistent spiritual effort.Supporting citation(s):"Every passion is sinful, each one directed against love, against God. When a person harbors any passion, they are always in conflict with the love for God and for their neighbor, breaking that union. Therefore, as long as we cultivate these passions within ourselves, the visitation of God’s grace is impossible for us, a meeting with Christ unattainable, as is union with the Kingdom of Heaven." (source: link txt)"Active and passive states, on the contrary, indicate inner disintegration: they are the consequences of sin." (source: link txt)