The Gift of Divine Favor in Your Sacred Covenant
When you gather to mark another year of your holy matrimony, it is easy to focus on the temporal logistics, the passing of years, and the sentimental memories. Yet, I want to invite you to see your marriage not merely as a human achievement or a social contract, but as a divine appointment established by the sovereign hand of God. In a world that views marriage through the lens of convenience and temporary emotion, the Holy Scriptures present a far grander reality: a covenantal union that mirrors the unbreakable relationship between Christ and His Church. Like Zechariah and Elisabeth, your journey may have traversed long, quiet seasons of waiting, but God was actively at work in the hidden, silent places of your lives.
Scripture reminds us that the Lord looks upon us with specific, redemptive intent. He does not overlook the quiet years of waiting, the unspoken trials, or the deep struggles that test your resolve and refine your faith. Your anniversary is a living testament to His eye being upon you, turning what the world might deem reproach into praise, and transforming the isolation of the human condition into the sanctifying companionship of Christian marriage. To understand this deeply, we must look to the testimony of Elisabeth in the Gospel of Luke, who recognized that God’s timing is always perfect, even when it is preceded by long years of silence:
Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.— Luke 1:25, KJV
In the context of holy Scripture, Elisabeth’s "reproach" was her barrenness—a condition that, in ancient Israel, carried a heavy social and emotional burden. Yet, in His perfect timing, the Lord "looked on" her. The Hebrew and Greek concepts of God "looking" upon someone denote not a passive observation, but a sovereign, merciful intervention.
In your marriage, there may have been seasons of spiritual dryness, emotional exhaustion, or external trials that felt like a reproach. Perhaps you have faced the barrenness of grief, financial strain, or physical illness.
But on this anniversary, you can look back and declare that the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. He has looked upon your union with favor. True marital favor is not the absence of trials, but the presence of God’s sustaining grace within those trials. As the wise man wrote in the Book of Proverbs:
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.— Proverbs 18:22, KJV
This favor is not earned by your perfection or legalistic performance; rather, it is a gift of grace. Your marriage stands secure today because it is anchored in the finished work of Jesus Christ, who redeemed you and brought you together to walk in a born-again relationship with Him and with one another.
Anchored in the Word: The Reality of His Presence
In the midst of your anniversary celebration, let us ground our hearts in the unchanging, infallible truth of the King James Bible. The Word of God tells us that the Lord is with us, not as a distant, detached observer, but as an intimate companion in the very "holy of holies" of your relationship. When we examine the angelic visitation to the virgin Mary, we find a declaration that transcends historical narrative and speaks directly to the spiritual reality of the believer's life and home:
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.— Luke 1:28, KJV
The angel Gabriel’s greeting was not a mere formality; it was a profound revelation of spiritual standing. The phrase "highly favoured" comes from the Greek root word charitoo, which is deeply linked to the concept of sovereign grace. It is the very same grace by which we are saved through faith. In a Christian marriage, both husband and wife are recipients of this divine favor, called to walk together as heirs of the grace of life.
Notice the immediate promise that follows this favor: "the Lord is with thee." This is the ultimate anchor for your marriage. When you entered into the covenant of marriage, you did not do so alone. You did so with the assurance that the Lord Jesus Christ dwells in your midst. Your vows are backed by the power of the One who created time and space, and who sustains all things by the word of His power. The Apostle Paul expounds on this mystery in his epistle to the Ephesians, demonstrating that Christian marriage is a physical manifestation of a spiritual reality:
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.— Ephesians 5:31-32, KJV
When the novelty of youth fades, or when the storms of life beat vehemently against your household, you must return to these scriptures. They are the anchor for your soul, holding firm when the cultural tides shift and the waves of adversity grow high. Let the reality of His indwelling presence be the lens through which you view your spouse and your shared future. You are not merely surviving; you are highly favored because the Lord is with you.
Fear Not, and Continue in Covenant Love
There will inevitably be seasons in your marriage where fear attempts to take root. Perhaps it is the fear of the unknown, the anxiety of aging, the pressure of family decisions, or the painful memories of past wounds resurfacing. The adversary desires nothing more than to sow discord, doubt, and fear into the sacred space of your covenant. But the message of the Scriptures remains steadfast and unchanging across the centuries: "Fear not."
The same God who spoke creation into existence, and who sovereignly orchestrated the redemption of mankind, has spoken peace and favor over your home. Consider the comforting words of the angel to Mary when she was troubled by the weight of her calling:
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.— Luke 1:30, KJV
To find favor with God is to be resting in His sovereign care. When fear knocks at the door of your marriage, you must answer it with the absolute assurance of God's Word. Fear and faith cannot occupy the same space. The Apostle John reminds us of the perfect antidote to fear in his first epistle:
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.— 1 John 4:18, KJV
This "perfect love" is not a human emotion that we muster up through sheer willpower; it is the sacrificial, agape love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. It is the love that led Christ to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, offering us a vibrant, born-again relationship with Him rather than a cold, legalistic religion. When your marriage is rooted in this vertical relationship with Christ, your horizontal relationship with your spouse is infused with grace, forgiveness, and long-suffering.
Your anniversary is a sacred moment to cast aside anxiety, to forgive past offenses, and to embrace the blessing of the present. It is a time to acknowledge that your love has been sustained not by your own human strength, but by the keeping power of God's grace. Look forward to the coming years with unshakeable hope, knowing that the same God who guided Mary and Joseph, and who has been faithful in the years behind you, is already standing in the years ahead of you.
The Covenant Sealed in Grace
As you celebrate this milestone, let your hearts be filled with praise. Your marriage is a testimony to a watching world that God is faithful, that His Word is true, and that His covenant is everlasting. Walk forward in the absolute confidence of the Apostle Paul's declaration to the Philippians:
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:— Philippians 1:6, KJV
May this anniversary be far more than a simple date on the calendar; may it be a sacred encounter with the living God who brought you together. Walk forward hand-in-hand, resting in the assurance that He who began this good work in your marriage will surely bring it to completion. You are blessed, you are highly favored, and in Christ Jesus, you are never alone.
In His Abundant Grace,
Grace — Faith Companion