Isaiah's Proposal

Isaiah and I were engaged on October 28, 2010. It was on this day that Isaiah told me that God had revealed to him whom he was to marry and that it was me!

Here is the story of that wonderful evening:

Place: In the (college) church auditorium. Isaiah and Lizzie were sitting in separate pews in the front section of the middle pews. Isaiah was in a pew in front of Lizzie.

Time: After the Thursday Night Service perhaps around 8:15pm.

And the story begins...

After the service finished, Isaiah turned around to face Lizzie.

Lizzie: You're pretty busy, what you doing?

Isaiah: I'm learning.

Isaiah begins fidgeting and gets nervously quiet, which was very abnormal for him since he always talked a lot when he and Lizzie were together.

Lizzie begins talking about her day and Isaiah listens then both get quiet again. They look at each other in silence for what seemed to be a long time. Then suddenly, Isaiah randomly jumps up from the pew and paces quickly out of the auditorium towards the doors on the left of the pulpit area. Lizzie assumes he is going to the restroom.

Isaiah was gone for about 10 minutes. Lizzie was afraid that by the time he came back she'd have to leave right away. She hoped that he'd hurry. She was a bit annoyed because she wanted to chat with him and knew her dad would be there soon to pick her and her sisters up. She was afraid they would have very little time to talk with one another and she hated their limited time of being able to talk and share things with each other. She longed for a time when they could sit and talk without any interruption.

Isaiah finally returned. He still was not being himself. He was all fidgety, picking up his Bible and putting it down, then picking up a water bottle and throwing it down, and then putting on his jacket and finally he sits down, much to Lizzie's relief! Isaiah said nothing; he just sat there. By now, Lizzie had had enough of this so she strikes up a conversation.

Lizzie: So, what's been going on?

Isaiah: What do you mean?

Lizzie: What's been going on? (she knew he knew what she meant)

Isaiah: Been learning about prayer and how I think more than I pray. God's been having me stick around after services and talk to Ben, Roak, and others.

Isaiah again gets quiet. They sit in silence, neither of them knowing what to say to the other. Isaiah begins to stare at something as if in another world and then reproves himself for thinking. Lizzie simply smiles and gives him a little giggle. Isaiah looks at Lizzie and then looks away; he then begins to stare into space again. Lizzie smiles and glances at him.

Lizzie: Are you thinking again? About what?

Isaiah: No, actually I'm praying.

Lizzie: Okay, what are you praying about?

Isaiah: What I should say to you next.

Lizzie: (a little puzzled at why he'd have to pray about what to say to her) Really?! Why? That's a little scary.

Isaiah: Because you're always supposed to say the right thing, right?

Lizzie nods.

Isaiah: Why does it scare you?

Lizzie: Well, you don't scare me; it's just scary because I don't know what God wants you to tell me.

Isaiah: I'm glad I don't scare you.

Lizzie: So, what are you supposed to tell me?

They look at one another. Isaiah begins to fidget yet again and look for distractions. Lizzie could tell that he was really nervous, but didn't have a clue why. He'd never acted like this before.

Lizzie: Well...?

Isaiah: Faith is of God and we are to have faith in God. Every perfect gift comes from above... (Isaiah continues to ramble on about faith in God.)

Lizzie: (Doubting that's what he is supposed to tell her) Is that what God wanted you to tell me or are you beating around the bush?

Isaiah: I'm beating around the bush.

Isaiah throws his water bottle.

Isaiah: (a little irritated with himself) Even this is beating around the bush!

Isaiah looks away from Lizzie and begins to bounce his leg up and down like crazy and to tap the pew with his right hand. Lizzie feels so bad that he is struggling to say whatever it is that he's supposed to say to her, but her patience begins to dwindle.

Lizzie: Look, if God whats you to tell me something, then just say it; I'm sure I can handle it!

Isaiah looks at Lizzie and then quickly looks away.

Lizzie: Do you want to write it?

Isaiah: No, I can say it. (Very annoyed with himself) It's just a matter of getting my mouth to open.

By this time, Lizzie's sister comes over to ask for Lizzie's phone so that she can call Dad to pick them up. After her sister leaves, Lizzie continues to coax the words out of Isaiah's mouth.

Lizzie: Isaiah, just say it; if you don't say it soon you won't be able to, because I'll be gone. My dad is coming to pick us up really soon.

Isaiah: (Stumbles to begin) I know, okay. God told me (takes a nervous breath) who I am supposed to marry.

Isaiah pauses and Lizzie looks into his eyes. Isaiah points at Lizzie and continues.

Isaiah: And it's you. (takes another nervous breath) He told me that in May.

Lizzie: Oh. He told me that my Freshman year.

Isaiah: That soon?

Lizzie's sister calls to her saying that Dad was there to pick them up and it was time to leave.

Lizzie and Isaiah stand up and begin to walk out of the pews. When Lizzie gets to the end of the pew, she stops.

Lizzie: Thank you for telling me.

Isaiah: Your welcome.

Lizzie: It's an answer to prayer.

Isaiah smiles and looks more relaxed.

Lizzie leaves the church building and gets in her dad's car trying her best to act normal after being told the very thing she had been waiting so long to hear from Isaiah. She replayed the incident in her mind over and over. She didn't want to forget that moment; she wanted to keep it for the rest of her life! She could not even believe what he said; it seemed too good to be true! God really used this to increase her faith in Him. The next step was for Isaiah to tell her Dad and she hoped he'd tell him soon so that this new chapter of her life would begin. She wanted to see so much more of Isaiah. She was so glad that she could finally say that she knew that Isaiah loved her back.