The Lord of the Rings (My Ring Testimony)

Remember the colt on which no one had ever sat before, the one Jesus gave His disciples plain instructions on how they would obtain it? He told them to go to a certain place and they would find this certain colt. The disciples went and did what Jesus said, finding the colt and loosing it, just the way Jesus said they would. As they were untying it, the colt’s owners asked them why they were taking the colt. The disciples answered exactly the way Jesus told them and SIMPLY said, “The Master needs it.” (Luke 19:31, WNT)

Hmmm... is it that simple? That, regarding something we have, God can simply say to us, “The Master needs it”? Don’t you know the owners of that colt thought they needed it, too? But apparently, at that simple statement, they willingly gave the colt to Jesus. In this day and age, that would be like giving your brand-new vehicle away, one that no one has ever driven. 

Do you think the Master left those men forever vehicle-less? You better believe, when the Master needs something you have, and you give it willingly, He will not leave you hanging.

This reminds me… Did I ever tell you the story about my ring?

People have approached me, more times than I can remember, just to point out this ring.

“Wow. That ring,” they'll say, “It is just gorgeous.”

I'll usually look down at it, realizing over and again that it is very pretty, because honestly, I don’t pay much attention to it. I’m totally thankful for it, but I’m not just staring at it every second thinking of how sparkly it is. In these moments, I am always reminded of how amazing God is in the divine testimony of how He gave me this ring. Not long ago we had it appraised for insurance reasons, and it showed worth well over $13,000, and I didn’t pay one penny for it... and my husband didn’t either. If you saw it, you might even wonder how and why I was able to get it. 

How do I respond when I'm approached about the ring the Lord gave me? I most always say, “Thank you!” and go on to tell them how “God is so good, I never thought I would be wearing a ring like this...” And then, if the moment calls for it, I will begin to tell them the whole story of my ring. I rarely share the entire testimony, unless God specifically prompts me to... as He has done in many cases. As I share it, there generally follows rejoicing in God and in His perfect orchestration of how He arranges gifts through and to all of His children.

Some of you have heard this testimony, but I'm impressed to share it with you once again.

I’ll start at the beginning.

When Matt and I were engaged, he had given me a beautiful set, and I think it had a sticker price of around $600. At the time—19 years ago—that was a pretty big deal to us. We weren’t willing to go into debt for a ring, and neither of us had super-expensive taste, so it was just fine. I was really happy and thankful for my wedding ring set. I treasured it. A lot of my friends had similar sets, so I didn’t feel inadequately banded.

A few years after we were married, the thought would occasionally come up to my heart about giving away my wedding rings. I thought … “Yea… I’m willing to do that if the Lord tells me to.” Although I wondered how I would get another one. It's not like we had hundreds of dollars lying around.

He was preparing me.

A couple years later, we were at a Christmas party with lots of people, some married and some not, all different ages. I had spent part of the evening talking with a lady who was married, and had been for years, as she was my parent's age and had grown children. She opened up to me about some serious marriage troubles she and her husband were having. During our conversation, I noticed her wedding ring. It was a thinner-than-ever, very small, hardly noticeable, tiny band. She later mentioned that they had never really gotten her a real wedding set because they weren’t able to. I didn’t think much of it because you see that all the time. I did my best to help her and encourage her, giving her what help I could in the short time we had.

Allow me to interject here: Was my marriage perfect at this time? Didn’t I myself need some marital help and encouragement right about then? Yes. But I've learned that if I’m in a place of need in an area, it's time for me to reach out and help someone else in that same area. When you give what you have, allowing Who God is and what He has to flow through you, even if you are currently in a place of personal need, God never leaves you needing or wanting. Whatever you do for those in need, He takes it personally, and He will take care of you in return.

Whoever is generous to the poor (someone who is needing or lacking in an area) lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed. (Prov. 19:17, ESV)

Back to my story…

Later that week, God dropped it in my heart that SHE was the one to whom I was to give my wedding rings. Yet, I had questions about it because she had alluded to the fact that they were probably getting a divorce and there was no turning back.

After seeking the Lord on the timing of the gift, I knew it wasn’t to be given to her right away; so, I did like Mary—I pondered these things in my heart.

I didn’t even mention it to Matt, but I began praying for her, her husband, and their marriage. God led me to pray some of the Scriptural prayers I've shared with you in previous emails.

Over the next 6-8 months, their marriage appeared to grow worse. I continued praying for them and looking to the Lord about the timing of gifting her the ring, but still did not have a release.

A couple more months went by, and there came a day when her husband happened to be working with me at the church. We had conversed about lots of different things throughout the day, and at one point in the conversation, their marriage came up. (I rarely talk to married men about their marriage, but this was God-led.) He made it very clear that he didn't want to quit on their marriage--he was still holding on to hope.

At that moment, I knew in my heart from the Lord exactly what was to happen: HE was to give her the ring. Not me.

I then contacted my husband to make sure he approved, and he did! He gave me the go ahead, yet I still wasn’t sure when I would tell the man.

Towards the end of the day, the Lord nudged me to go ahead and mention it to him and let him know I have a wedding ring set to give him for his wife, directed by the Lord. He was SOOO thankful, yet a bit hesitant, because he was trusting God that his wife would stay with him and wasn’t super confident that she would. This gift would serve as such a huge encouragement to him, propelling him to continue trusting God for their marriage and to not give up.

I told the man, “Don’t leave yet! Let me run home and clean it and get the box and bring it back to you.” Once I had given it to him in my heart, I knew I couldn’t hold on to it any longer and had to immediately get it to him.

I ran home, so excited about this privilege, cleaned the rings, put them nicely into the box, and came right back. I handed it to him. He was so happy.

He proceeded to tell me that he didn’t feel it was quite time to go right home and give it to her, but he would be looking to the Lord as to when and how.

I told him, “Don’t ever tell her where you got this ring. As far as I’m concerned, all she will ever know is that it came from you.”

He told me he would let me know when it all goes down, with all the details, so I could rejoice with him.

A couple months later, he came back with a testimony. After receiving the rings, he had gotten them sized for her, and planned to give it to her for their quickly approaching anniversary. It was a huge step of faith because he had no promise of a good response from her... but was trusting God. He made up a gift basket and placed the ring box within the gift basket, like a hidden surprise.

Leaving out all the details, he told me expressly that this was the first fruitful step toward reconciliation in their marriage.

Fast forward quite a few years, and today, over a decade later, they are still married and going strong.

I felt like I was on Cloud Nine for days. Even over the next couple of years, when I would look down and see the make-shift band I had placed on my wedding ring finger, I was still so happy. I never missed that set! It had served its purpose. The Master had need of it, and I was honored to give it to Him. I was so thankful He had used me to help restore someone’s marriage.

I continued to wear the diamond-less replacement band for a few years.

One day, kind of out of nowhere, I received a call from a lady who went to church with me. We were no more than acquaintances, having seen each other here and there at church. She told me she would be coming to the church that day, and wanted to know if we could meet privately.

When she arrived, we met in one of the secluded rooms off to the side. She was holding a small ring box in her hand. I didn’t pay any much attention to it, as I was focused on thinking maybe she had come to receive counsel or help in an area.

We sat down, and she proceeded to tell me how the Lord directed her to give me something. She said it was a big deal because she had to receive permission from all her family before she could do it. She had asked her husband, daughter, mother, and grandmother because it was a family heirloom. They all miraculously agreed she was doing the right thing.

She handed me the box and told me to open it. I was totally shocked to see what was inside. Wasn't this the very same shiny wedding ring set I had noticed her wearing many times before? It was so large and sparkly; you could notice it from the other side of the sanctuary when the light hit it just so. She was giving it to me?? At the direction of the Lord? And her unmarried daughter agreed??

Wow. I was floored. I did not deserve this, but I wasn’t going to dishonor her gift by refusing it. I was very thankful. She instructed me to quickly have it re-appraised and insured. This thought of needing to insure a piece of jewelry was new to me, for sure! I prayed with her and we rejoiced in what God had done, and I went back to my office still in utter shock!

Wow, God! He didn’t leave me ring-less!

As I’m writing this, I’m reminded of Romans 8:28. You can see this verse in a new light when you read it from the Voice translation. I think it describes God’s part in this story—in all of our stories—so beautifully:

We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. (Romans 8:28)

The heart of this story has nothing to do with me having a fancy ring. Yes, when I look at it, I am reminded of God’s love for me, but more than that, this ring on my finger will forever remind me of how God used me to help bring another’s marriage in His Family to restoration and healing. It will forever remind me of the goodness of God and of how much He values MARRIAGE. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of not only how much He loves me, but of how much He loves His Body, His children... and this little ring is used over and over again to tell of how God will orchestrate GOOD to each of His kids.

What do you have? I guarantee you; you have something the Master has need of. And it is a blessing when you get to be a part of someone else's answer. God will use any item/thing/gift given by any person in any way possible just so He can love on another one of His children. Our marriages are so valuable and special to Him. Let’s allow Him to use us, orchestrating His peace, love, hope, and encouragement to every person He leads us to.

Love you all,

Jessica