Dericka Canada Cunningham, GBW Founder
January 29, 2024
This Week's Anchor
“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43: 18-19 (NKJV)
Welcome to another year of the Grounded Black Women (GBW) devotional community! I’d like to welcome our new subscribers to the GBW family, and I want to express my gratitude to those who’ve been rocking with this devotional community since it was founded in 2021 (yes, that’s right, it’s been almost 3 years)! As we relaunch GBW in this new year, I find myself humbly reflecting on the origins of GBW and the incredible power of beginnings.
As I’ve shared before, for years I felt called to do more in the community of Christ. I saw the need for a space for Black women, and I felt the tug of God to create it. However, I didn’t feel I had what it took to make it happen. I didn’t have the time, the space, the biblical knowledge, or the straight-and-narrow lifestyle. As I started this journey, I had many questions and what felt like no answers: What will I say? Will people listen? Will they care? What if I mess up? What if I interpret the Bible incorrectly or say the wrong thing and misrepresent God? The more I thought about why and how I couldn’t do it, the further I was stalled by fear and placed this ministry on the back burner. But the great thing about God is He doesn’t give up on calling us in and He somehow finds a way to get our attention. Even when we are the ones in our own way, He clears a path for us to begin and get back to purpose. Isaiah 43 is a great reminder of this, and it was an anchor in my surrendering to God by initiating this devotional community.
The chapter begins with the proclamation: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine” (v. 1). The response to my questions as I started this ministry, and the answer to the countless questions of worry and anxiety that many of us carry throughout our lives was/is simple: fear not. It seems basic, and believe me, I understand that fear is a natural part of the human condition. In fact, life gives us every reason to worry. Nevertheless, God gives us all the reason and ability to wade through every ounce of fear. He reminds us that He has called us and that we have been redeemed.
As a psychologist, I am a scholar by training, so when I read scriptures certain words stay with me, and I often go to my good ole dictionary to let them marinate further. The word redemption is defined as: To pay off, to buy back; to recover, restore, or deliver.
Let those words sink in:
To pay off (In Christ, every debt is taken care of)
To buy back (What you have lost will be Divinely reclaimed)
To recover (God will make it up to you)
To restore (He’ll make you better)
To deliver (He’ll get you through it and set you free)
Not only have we been redeemed, but we are redeemed, and we will be redeemed. When I finally made my way through fear and accepted God’s call to this ministry, my worry quickly shifted to shame and regret (“I should have done this a long time ago” “Why did it take me so long?” “God you must be so disappointed in me” “Is it too late?”). If no one has ever told you this, let me say it loud and clear, it, you, and God are never too late. Isaiah 43:18 tells us “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth.” God’s redemption covers any regret of the past and all worries for the future, and He gives us the power to ignite that redemption at any given moment. With God, we can start anew right now, and the best part is He can make things new in us again and again and again.
As I look back over the years of this ministry, I can attest to the mighty relief of God’s never-ending renewal. God has done more than reassure that apprehensive woman who had a vision and a tug for something meaningful but had no clue how to make it happen. Three years later, and here she is. Writing to you—refilled, refueled, and restored in hope for God’s vision of GBW in this fourth year. I thank those of you whom God has used to affirm and encourage me along the way, and it’s my prayer that God sends that affirmation and encouragement right back to you as you move boldly in this new year.
So, whatever new thing God is calling you into, make today the start of your new season! Acknowledge the shame, guilt, fear, and uncertainty, and willfully place it in the hands of God. He chose you. He has called and authorized you. And He will give you the tools and the restored head and heart space you need to live out His purpose for you. It’s a new day, a new week, a new year, and a new beginning. Begin again and start your journey of wholeheartedly living God’s calling today!
Reflection
What is resonating for you about this scripture and/or this devotion?
What, where, and how is God calling you this year? What do you need from the Holy Trinity to help you answer this call?
What intention(s) do you want to set to connect and/or reconnect with being grounded this week?
Related Scriptures to Ground You Through this Week
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Lamentations 3: 22-26
Acts 3:19-21
Romans 8:26-30
2 Corinthians 5: 17
Philippians 3: 12-14
Hebrews 12:1-3
My Through-the-Week Reflection Guide
A Song of Inspiration
Quote of Love & Liberation
“Lift up your hearts. Each new hour holds new chances for new beginnings.”
Maya Angelou
Grateful for always knowing we can Begin Again and that God will always make a road in the wilderness even when we can’t see the forest from the trees. Thank you Dericka,for continuing and sharing God’s work,plans and wisdom through you for this devotion for us all. Keep Shining 💞
This fed my spirit this morning. I learned. Tysm for sharing your heart with us Dericka! 💓