Stones of Turquoise

For years, when I thought of turquoise, I thought of the beautiful stone popularized by the Native American culture.  But did you know that turquoise is referenced in the Bible?  Well I didn't until the Lord used it to encourage my heart and provide hope and comfort during a very difficult time in my life. March 5th, 2005 was a bad day.  I was up early and on my way to Florida to do some soul-searching.  Running to God for strength and support before I left, I opened a recent Christmas present from my husband: The Parallel Bible.  Incidentally, if you're not familiar with it, the Parallel Bible is a side by side comparison of two different biblical translations; in my case, the NIV and The Message.  It's a really cool way to read/study the Bible actually...you should try it.  Anyway, the passage before me was Isaiah 54:  "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, still my unfailing love for you will not be shaken and my covenant of peace will not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.  “Oh afflicted city [Julie], lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires.  I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.  No weapon formed against you will stand because, see, it is I who created the blacksmith" (10-12, 16+17 part, emphasis mine).  As I crossed out the word "city" and replaced it with my name, I realized this passage was for me...these promises were for me!  God promised he'd rebuild me with stones of turquoise!  He promised that, even though I was feeling tossed about by the storms of life, his unfailing love for me would not be shaken or removed!  He promised that, because he was the One who actually made the blacksmith, that blacksmith would not be able to create a weapon that would have the power to bring me down!  Wow.  I'm speechless even now as I type this eleven years later.

So I packed my Parallel Bible and headed to the airport.  On my way to the gate I spied a kiosk selling all types of jewelry, including turquoise rings.  As I stopped to pursue the selections, God reminded me of his promise, that he was going to rebuild me with stones of turquoise.  Tears flooded my eyes, so much so that the clerk asked if I was okay.  I unashamedly explained my experience that morning and purchased a turquoise ring from her as a symbol (an ebenezer) of God's promise to me.

I've got my promise ring on right now and wear it often as a visible reminder of God's unrelenting love for me.