Not Just a Moment: The Covenant God Designed

Part 8 of Two Become One: The Prelude to a Joy-Filled Marriage

“Not Just a Moment: The Covenant God Designed”

Jada stood barefoot in the sand at Sand Key, bouquet trembling slightly in her hands. The sun was setting behind them, the water calm and golden, the air thick with anticipation. It should’ve been the happiest day of her life.

But her thoughts were still circling the question her grandmother had asked earlier that morning: “Are you marrying for a moment… or for a covenant?”

Jada and Marcus had dated for nearly three years. They were partners in everything—joint playlists, shared responsibilities, dog co-parents, and two steaming mugs of coffee every morning.

But six weeks before their wedding, something shifted. Their pastor asked them to read Genesis 2:24 together:

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

The verse was familiar, but its weight suddenly hit different. Marcus said quietly, “So… this is more than choosing each other. It’s about becoming one.” Jada nodded, “And not just for now—for always.”

In that moment, they realized: they were planning the wedding, but they needed to revisit what they believed about marriage.

In a world that treats marriage like a milestone or a contract, God calls it something deeper: a covenant.

Let’s be clear:

• Marriage was God’s idea.
  “It is not good that the man should be alone…” (Genesis 2:18)
  God created woman as a helper suitable for man, and He performed the very first marriage in the Garden of Eden.
• Marriage is between one man and one woman.
  “He created them male and female…” (Matthew 19:4–5)
  The biblical design isn’t fluid or cultural. It’s foundational.
• Marriage is a covenant, not a contract.
  A contract is based on mutual benefit and can be broken. A covenant is a sacred promise made before God—a binding spiritual commitment to love, serve, and stay.
• Marriage is not about finding someone to complete you.
  Each person is already whole, already enough.
  “You are complete in Him…” (Colossians 2:10)
  Marriage is not two halves making a whole. It’s two complete people choosing to become one.
• Marriage is not about making each other happy.
  Happiness is fleeting. Joy is a byproduct of obedience, growth, and grace.
  “Love… does not insist on its own way…” (1 Corinthians 13:5)
  Marriage is a daily act of service—laying down pride, preferences, and self to build something greater together.
• Marriage reflects God’s love—unconditional and covenantal.
  A husband and wife are called to love each other as Christ loved the Church: sacrificially, faithfully, and without condition.
  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25)

So by the time Jada stood beside Marcus at Sand Key, her smile was steady. Not because she had no doubts or fears—but because she knew what she was stepping into.

She wasn’t just saying “I do.” She was stepping into a God-designed covenant—with a clear definition, a sacred purpose, and a partner who had chosen the same.

And that makes all the difference.

If you're engaged or considering marriage, I invite you to build on something eternal—not just emotional. Let’s create a ceremony that reflects your story and honors God's definition of marriage.

Call or text Notary Near Me Florida at 813-239-4117

Joy for a Lifetime — for weddings, vow renewals, and sacred celebrations

Because this isn’t just a moment. It’s a covenant. And that’s where the joy begins—for a Joy for a Lifetime.