He got down on one knee and my whole world changed. Suddenly I was saying “yes” and he was slipping a beautiful ring on my finger, and I knew that nothing would ever be quite the same. In that moment, I felt like I would never be annoyed or mad at him ever—I would only feel the happy giddiness of just getting engaged. However, while the happiness lasted, the annoyances slipped in from time to time. As I talked with him about life and we communicated about the small but annoying conflicts that popped up, I played with the ring on my finger. It stayed perfectly in place, even when I was tired or grumpy or rude or hurt. It remained, and so did our commitment. Regardless of feelings or circumstances, the choice we made will stand forever. 

A ring is such a beautiful example of the promises of God. Sometimes we’ll have that “just engaged” feeling and feel that we love God and will never feel confused or upset. Sometimes we’ll feel apathetic and frustrated that we don’t have that “first love” feeling at the moment. Other times we’ll be upset, confused, or just plain angry. But the commitment remains. The promises remain. God is eternal and unchanging (Hebrews 13:8), and we can trust that His promises reflect His eternal nature. We can bank on God’s promises even when every other promise seems to fall away. 

The security of God’s promises leads to peace. In Ephesians 2, we learn that Christ is “our peace” (2:14, ESV) and worked to bring the peace of reconciliation between God and all of humanity (us!). In the passage above, we see that the Holy Spirit is an agent of the peace that Jesus gives and can remind us of that peace when we’re feeling uncertain, just like a ring on a finger is a reminder of a sure and steady commitment. 

Whatever you’re feeling today and whatever promises feel broken or irrelevant, remember that Jesus and His promises will stand forever. He is making a home for you, and He is coming back for you. If you’re having trouble remembering those promises or feeling that peace, reach out to others in community and ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of these eternal, unshakable truths.