In the Bible Dictionary under the word grace it says, "The main idea of the word is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ." The song "Amazing Grace" is a beautiful description of this bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ. The words are thus,
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like meI once was lost, but now I'm foundWas blind but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fearAnd grace my fears relievedHow precious did that grace appearThe hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils, and snaresI have already comeThis grace that brought me safe thus farAnd grace will lead me home
When we've been here ten thousand yearsBright, shining as the sunWe've no less days to sing God's praiseThan when we first begun
Amazing grace how sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like meI once was lost, but now I'm foundWas blind but now I see
In the grand scheme of things, we are nothing, yet God sees us as His everything. Without Christ's sacrifice we would be lost and blind. When talking of fear, we are often told in the scriptures to fear God. Some people may take that the wrong way and view Him as a hardened king who gives us no choices. However, the way I view fearing God is different. I see fearing Him meaning we revere and worship Him. When we fear God our other fears don't matter so much anymore because we know God knows all and that He is in charge.
I often struggle to find hope in better things ahead because health problems often get in the way of my participating in life. It is hard to believe that I will get the chance to spread my wings and experience everything I want to. I took another leave of absence this semester halfway through since I missed half of it anyway due to illnesses and other factors. I know it doesn't matter how long it takes me to graduate college, but it is still frustrating to know it will take me one semester longer. For some reason I had it in my head that once I moved to Logan and was working and going to school things would be easy peasy. Who knows where that idea came from, but boy was I wrong. It has been nothing but trial after trial since getting here and I often find myself complaining about how hard things are and wishing things were easy, even for a short time. However, if things were easy, I know I wouldn't appreciate my relationship with my Savior or Father in Heaven as much and I wouldn't know the power of God's grace. As I listened to Mat and Savanna Shaw's version of "Amazing Grace" tonight I started crying. As tears streamed down my face I realized that there would be no point to the Savior's sacrifice and His grace if life wasn't hard. There wouldn't even be a point to life if it was easy all the time. As I dried my tears I was grateful once again for a Savior who sacrificed Himself so He could show me grace even when I complain about my circumstances. I need hard things in my life, do I usually want them, no, but I need them and I need my Savior to be there with me through them cause He knows I wouldn't be where I am today without Him and I never would have gotten through my trials without His strength.
I know tonight I re-learned why things are hard and why Christ suffered. It was for me and it was for you. It was an all encompassing, yet individual Atonement. He bled for my sins and my pains, my complaints, and my sorrows, my tears and my fears. He died FOR ME so He could extend grace when my burden is too heavy to bear alone. I hope you can all come to know how much the Savior loves each of you and understand the grace he offers you everyday.
Love,
Kenzie
Here is the link to Mat and Savanna Shaw's version of "Amazing Grace"
