Faith, Experience, Hope
Today I was reading out of Romans chapter 6 and I was so touched by the following verses:
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesusu Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4And patience, experience; and experience,hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Normally Romans is not my favorite book in the New Testament, I reserve that for the book of John, Hebrews, and Revelation, but wow what wonderful words these are. I love the chapter on Faith, Hope and Charity in Moroni, but this has got to be right there with it. I have never noticed the experience after patience before, and then comes Hope. What is it about Experience that brings Hope into our lives, and what is it about patience that brings experience. If everything was easy, as often times is want, then would we really get that patience that brings experience and ultimately hope. So many times I have put down my own trials as not significant because I see so much suffering among others I love. I see their lives as so much harder, that I discount what I learn from my own sorrow and tribulation. Perhaps they see life much the same way? I remember being in nursing school, single, taking 20 + credits a semester, life was busy, but I just had me to worry about. Then there were married women, some divorced, all trying to carry the burden of raising a family the same time they were going through school, I was amazed at how they did it, I was sure I couldn’t do the same. One of them said once, they didn’t know how I did it as one of the few freshmen in the class, not only taking the nursing classes, but trying to do the prerequisit courses they had already done to get in the program,(going into the program right out of highschool those course had to been done the same time as the nursing classes.) and also doing the required classes for my music scholarship, and institute classes. I was busy but I thought, I just have to worry about feeding me, I don’t have to worry about feeding a family, doing laundry for more than me. I thought I had it easy. I think those of us on either side of the fence thought it was harder for the other. I think we appreciated what the other was doing. Did that mean that we learned patience? What about experience? I know that many of the things I have learned, I’m not sure I have learned to completely appreciate my trials. I’m not one of those that can say I’m glad I have gone through them. There are many I wish to this day I didn’t have to go through, and I never want to walk through those refining fires again, they about did me in. Am I stronger for them, I honestly don’t know. Am I better for them, probably. I’m probably more understanding and more forgiving that I was 20 years ago. Still I felt I learned something today as I pondered this section of scripture. I learned something new, and new dimension to a favorite theme. I feel as if I have seen a harmonic chord rather than hearing it. A new level of understanding, and something to think and ponder more. I think this chapter deserves more time and pondering on my part. It has been awhile since scripture has touched me like that. Maybe the meds are working and my mind is getting clearing, and opening up more to the spirit. Or perhaps today, I was more ready to be taught than I have been for a long while. Learning isn’t always easy, but I enjoy it when it comes.
So Paul, Thank you for your discourse, I needed to be reminded of the grace given to all of us, and all things are taught in time and in order, one little baby step at a time.
By Tanya
