"Know This, That Every Soul Is Free"

"Know this, that ev'ry soul is free
To choose his life and what he'll be;
For this eternal truth is giv'n:
That God will force no man to heav'n.
He'll call, persuade, direct aright,
And bless with wisdom, love, and light,
In nameless ways be good and kind,
But never force the human mind.
Freedom and reason make us men;
Take these away, what are we then?
Mere animals, and just as well
The beasts may think of heav'n or hell.
May we no more our pow'rs abuse,
But ways of truth and goodness choose;
Our God is pleased when we improve
His grace and seek his perfect love."

-Know This, That Every Soul Is Free

I heard this hymn for the first time 3 weeks ago at a BYU devotional & I can't get it out of my head. Over & over & over it plays. It is my consolation. It is my inspiration. Through it I understand more fully my responsibility. Through it I understand more fully the actions of those around me. What a privilege God has given us in allowing opposition! What a privilege it is to choose the right course! What a marvelous thing it is that though everything is a gift from God, the gift of agency is the best of all. It is only because of it that we have a gift to return to our precious Father. OUR WILL.

This semester has been anything but uneventful. It has been absolutely eye-opening, & there's not an experience that I would exchange for an easier trial. I have had neither the chance nor the desire to sit back & say, "when did things get so tough?" I don't really care when they did or how they did or why they did, I only know that I've made it through thus far & I'm not completely worn out yet. I have stretched till my spiritual muscles have become taut, but I am still pushing forward. That has to count for something.

I never thought I would be strong enough to keep smiling in the midst of turmoil, but here I am beaming like an idiot as the world sways around me. I don't know what lies ahead for me in the near future, but there is something, maybe a great many somethings that I am being prepared for. This semester has been my cram session & I though I am still in the midst of the test, I don't doubt I will get a passing grade & be thoroughly prepped for whatever the Lord has in store for me.