In Scotland: A Promise, a Castle, and a Ring

In preparing for my mission trip to England and practicing my testimony, I shared how God had encouraged me in my wait for the one He had for me and my struggle with believing I had worth (because I had struggled with porn for a long time [over 10 years] before I got saved, had so many lust issues, I didn't wait, and I am not a virgin). He had used Isaiah 1:18 to show me that I was redeemed on many occasions when I got saved. The day I shared that with the group getting ready to head to England I went home and reread the verse. In doing so the verse after caught my attention. I'd read it before but this time God was speaking into my heart on it.
      Isaiah 1:18-19 (NIV '84) says, "'Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land...'"
      When I read that verse, I cried. I had talked about how God had given me an amazing man. I am in a relationship I was told I'd never have because it didn't exist-a faithful and loving relationship where I am treated as I am worth. God had truly delivered on His promise because I had been willing to follow Him and was obedient when He called me to different roles and higher standards. I wasn't just redeemed, I was rewarded. It's not just that I no longer look and am like who I used to be, but I am treated like I am still and have always been worthy. I didn't just get what was good, I got the best (for me).
      Little did I know that God was not done.
      After the mission trip, my boyfriend (Joey) and I took a trip from England to Scotland with two of our close friends, Sam and Rachel (and their son Seth). Joey kept telling me that he wanted it to be the best date we've had and planned it out as a surprise. We spent a night (don't worry, I was in a room with Rachel) in a guesthouse in Glasgow. The next day we left for our true destination. It was about a 4 hour drive. We rode past such amazing scenery. There green mountains, water falls, and gorgeous lakes! I was in heaven. When we were a couple of minutes off, Joey asked me to close my eyes. He escorted me out of the car, positioned me and asked me to open them.
      We were at a castle. He told me that we were at one of the most photographed and beautiful castles in the world, Eilean Donan Castle overlooking the Isle of Skye. The above picture is my favorite picture that I took of it. I love anything to do with epic battles and honorable knights, so I was very excited to be there.
      We bought tickets to go into the castle, but Joey went in to "make sure we got the cheapest price." I didn't know it at the time, but he had actually gone in to ask the man at the counter what the best place to propose was. When he got his answer, we went in and started our tour. There was an area of the castle (kind of like the castle deck) that was outside and overlooked the mountains and lakes. As we stood there and admired the view Joey asked if I liked my surprise. I enthusiastically said yes! Then he told me that he had another one. I was elated (I love surprises)!
      He pulled out a note and I got excited (I also really love notes). Then he opened a flap of the note and it said "The Hand Story." In reading that phrase I got even more excited! He had been teasing me with the existence of this "hand story" for about two years now (since we started dating). I'd asked him a ton of times to tell me the story but he always said he wanted to save it until the right time. I didn't think about that at the moment. All that was running through my mind was that I would FINALLY know it. He told me to read it aloud.

      The note talked about a day at least two months before we started dating. He got bored and so he hid my purse. He had told me he didn't do it, but I knew better (I'd been waiting for him for a year without ever letting on that I liked him, I could tell when he was being mischievous). I got frustrated because I couldn't find it and he wouldn't tell me where it was so I grabbed his arm in a plea of resignation and asked him to tell me where it was. He said that in that moment something happened in him. It was in that second that he finally knew that God had prepared me for him and him for me. I cried when I read this because I'd been hurt and frustrated so many times before we dated because, for the majority of my wait for him, I kept getting confirmation that he was the one God had for me and he'd be the one I would marry. I didn't understand at the time why God kept me knowing and waiting yet wouldn't tell him what He was telling me. I never knew that He had.
      At the end of the note, Joey wrote:
                   "I've spent the last two years knowing.
                  Knowing you'd be my best friend.
                  Knowing you'd be my partner.
                  Knowing I'd never love another woman like I love you!
                                         Knowing I'd ask this question..."
      Then he got down on one knee and asked me if I would be his best friend forever, and I said yes! I am finally seeing God's promise during my waiting season come to fruition. I will marry the man He had me wait for. The virgin. The pastor. The man I had felt so unworthy of many times during my wait.
      God made sure I'd known just how worthy I was before the relationship. And, with the plan for the proposal He put on my fiancé's heart, He sealed that truth for me forever. As we left the castle and began our drive back to England, He brought me to tears. He told me that I'm the daughter of the King and so He gave me a proposal fitting of it. He told me that I was worthy of it.