Worth Far More Than Rubies

A few weeks ago, I began sharing with you {randomly} about some encounters I had with God in the IWU Prayer Chapel, during a set-apart time of prayer and fasting. This particular section I want to share with you gives me goose bumps to read now - because I'm reading from the other side. If you're one of my single-and-waiting friends...I ache for you to find comfort in these words. If you're one of my married friends...I ache for you to find thankfulness for answered prayers, just as I'm finding today.

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One of my childhood pastors, Fred Littlefield, once preached about the importance of Scripture memorization.  He said that when we put Scripture into our memory bank, God will pull it out at just the right time.  I’ve learned the truth in that statement – and beyond it, I’ve also learned that in the spirit of Romans 8:28, God will also work to bring together truths we’ve learned from various sources – if we’re willing to take the time to learn them.

As I sat in the prayer chapel for week number three, God reminded me of that lesson as He brought to my mind sections of truths I’d learned here and there over the past weeks – months.  Amazing how something I had read or heard or experienced at so many different stopping points could suddenly all lump together and make sense. 

It began with my ring.  I sat in the chapel waiting on my first lesson of the day, and in my fidgety nature, I began twisting the ruby ring on my left hand’s ring finger.  Not until later that night, after consulting my journal, did I realize that this particular day was my 100^th day of wearing that ring.  God knows how dearly I love anniversaries like that, and I appreciated His tying in a lesson about the ring on such an important day for it.

A few months earlier, I began studying Elizabeth George’s book Beautiful in God’s Eyes.  I mentor a friend from church and together, Olivia and I had been delving into Elizabeth’s findings on the Proverbs 31 Woman.  I wanted Olivia to know how to better grow into such a woman, as she was already doing, and I wanted to make sure I got on track in being that woman, as I wanted to gift my husband with a blessing, not a hindrance of a wife. 

The second chapter of the book focused on Proverbs 31:10, which says, “Her worth is far above rubies.”  Elizabeth said “The rich red ruby is truly a unique gem, and because of their rarity, large rubies even surpass diamonds of equal weight in value!”  I had no idea!  I always credited diamonds with being the gem of choice in value.  That day, as I read that chapter, I vowed to find a ruby ring and wear it on my ring finger until the day my husband proposes to me – as a reminder to me that I have value in God’s eyes – and as a reminder to work hard every day to become a woman of even greater value for my someday husband.

Since I read that chapter in January, one of my friends suggested that I watch for Valentine's Day jewelry sales in the weeks to come, and I might find a ruby ring in my price range (which wasn’t very high).  I thought it was an excellent and easy idea, so I kept my eyes on the newspaper flyers…and came up empty.  Apparently at least in my area of the world, ruby rings never go on sale.  Necklaces, earrings, bracelets – all of that gets the markdown, but not rings. At least not ones that would look good on me. 

And then – two weeks before Valentines Day – one jewelry store near my house ran an advertisement for a ruby ring – small and classy – right at the top of my price range.  There would be an extra charge for sizing if necessary.  I took one look at my chubby ring finger and rolled my eyes.  I wondered what “extra charge” translated to in dollars.  Nevertheless, I made my way to the store with coupon in hand, on the appointed day of the sale and asked to see the ring.  The lady pulled it out of the case and slipped it on my finger.  A perfect fit.  I wrote the check and walked out with my new ring proudly displayed.

Later that day, God pointed out to me that He can ordain even ruby rings.  A perfect fit of the perfectly priced ring.  And then He pointed out that my ring is comprised of three hearts – two on their sides pointing into the large one in the middle.  Just as your marriage will be two hearts in love with God at the center.

One hundred days later, I sat in the chapel, twisting the ring on my finger, remembering a day in February when I made a vow to become worth more than the rarest gem so I could bless my husband. 

There will be a husband. 

What?

There is a husband in your future and I will be the center of your marriage. 

What a comfort God brought in those words.  These dates – where I came to pray and learn and seek and be filled – were serving a purpose.  I couldn’t see what just yet, but I had such a peace that a purpose existed. 

Elizabeth’s book from months before came back to me as I sat there – and how thankful I was that God was molding me into a beautiful woman for….the love of a lifetime that I could only dream about.

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And now, from the other side, I can tell you that the ring I wrote about that day was actually not the one I had on my finger when Ryan proposed. I discovered while on vacation several months later that the center ruby had fallen out - and I had no idea where it happened. In time, I found a replacement ring - with a story that was as beautiful as finding the first one. 

And Olivia? The one I studied with? I had the privilege of praying over her and her husband the night before their wedding, and I stood beside her the next day as a bridesmaid. I watched with no reservation whatsoever as she joined her heart with God's match for her.

And as for the ring itself...I pulled it off my ring finger on October 4, 2012, when Ryan knelt before me in Studio A, in front of a live mic, with all my co-workers watching and thousands more listening. And God's promise rang true. There was a husband for me after all, and He IS the center of our marriage.