Dericka Canada Cunningham, GBW Founder
May 23, 2022
This Week's Anchor
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Isaiah 43:2 NIV
I don’t know about you, but with the recent display of domestic terrorism against Black individuals in Buffalo, NY, along with the ongoing expression and perpetuation of racism in our nation and globe, it’s been hard to feel secure in life as it exists here on Earth. You can open any news app and be immediately flooded with reminders of how far from God’s love we truly are. Although racism, evil, and war aren’t new and have been an unfortunate ongoing part of our (and our ancestors’) lives, each reminding moment can be met with grief, trauma, exhaustion, and a sense of discouragement. Our anchor scripture this week meets us in these complex emotions surrounding the reality of our world.
This week’s anchor reassures us that God (and the Holy Trinity) is with us no matter how bleak our realities might feel. Whether it’s troubled waters, raging rivers, or blazing fires, God is not only aware, but He will be with us. If your mind is anything like mine (curiously in overdrive), you’ve probably asked yourself the question, well, if God can be with us in it, why can’t He just prevent it? Why is racism even a thing? Why does war have to happen? Why is evil allowed to run rampant in our communities? I wish I could offer answers to our desperate questions. But, I can’t. Like you, I often observe our world and am left with more questions than answers. Thankfully, as we’ve discussed in a previous devotion, God graciously understands our why’s. He will meet us in our despair, and although our longing questions might not be resolved, we can receive unexplainable spiritual peace and comfort.
When we find ourselves faced with what can feel like never-ending tragedies, we are reminded of both humbling and reassuring truths:
Worldly safety is an illusion—It pains me to state this sobering principle, but when terror like the Buffalo massacre occurs, we are hit with the reality that the world was never safe and never will be. No matter how hard we try to protect ourselves or avoid danger, something as innocent as shopping at the grocery store for Sunday dinner can be accompanied by the threat of harm. While this type of racist act should certainly be abolished, considering our limited individual ability to control or change this reality, it is helpful to consistently connect with the presence and power of the Holy trinity to guard and sustain us as we dwell in this world that is not our eternal home.
God’s safety is eternal—It took me a while (and growing into adulthood) to realize that when we read about safety and protection in the Bible, we aren’t being sold a dream of the prevention of physical danger and harm. However, the covering and protection that God offers go beyond the flesh. Pardon me if I get a little too deep here, but for those of us who believe in eternal life, we recognize that it’s our souls that are protected no matter what life hands us. I can remember the first time I attended a funeral alongside my mother as a young child. As we approached the casket for the viewing, my mom could sense my anxiety and dread about seeing a dead body. She leaned over and whispered, “it’s just a shell; this body is just a shell”. My mom would continue to utter these words at every funeral I attended with her in the years that followed, and moments when I’ve attended funerals without her, I hear her words “it’s just a shell”. These words have stayed with me throughout my life and they illustrate the sentiment that our delicate and perishable physical bodies are temporary loans and that although they are perishable, it is our spirits that God preserves.
We can dwell in a sacred place within ourselves when we need reassurance, protection, and grounding—When we look around and nothing feels safe, we can turn inward to that quiet place within ourselves where we feel the warmth of God’s presence. In the hustle and bustle of our lives, it can be difficult to connect with our spiritual presence. However, we have the ability to slow down, pause and nourish our souls. [Listen to this podcast and/or purchase this book by Dr. Thema Bryant, psychologist, minister, and leader, on connecting with self and healing]
As we wade through another week of the unexpected, let us hold close to each other—our loved ones, our communities, the wisdom of our beloved ancestors, and most importantly to the Word and the presence of the Holy Trinity. We can carry the words of this week’s song of inspiration with us as an anchor of reassurance and encouragement…
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high God, shall abide in His grace. And he that walketh through the valley of death, shall in no wise be entangled by God’s hand, He shall be kept. If I go into the heavens, He knows. If I go into the deepest depths, He knows. So no matter what may come my way, I’m covered by His blood, even when Satan seems to rage, from His hand, I’m hidden safe. I’m in His safety, dwell in His safety, the safety of the Lord. Nothing can stop me, nor can you block me, why, because I’m in the safety of the Lord. He is the captain of my soul, He is my fortress from all harm. When the storms of life begin to rage in my life, I run into the Master’s arms. I’m in His safety, dwell in His safety,
The safety of the Lord.”
Reflection
What is resonating for you about this scripture and/or this devotion?
Take a soul-check: What aspects of your mind/body/soul need addressing?
What do you need from the Holy Trinity to nourish your soul?
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
Deuteronomy 31:6
Psalm 23
1 Corinthians 15:58
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Hebrews 6:19-20
1 Peter 4:12-13
My Through-the-Week Reflection Guide
A Song of Inspiration
Quote of Love & Liberation
“May you have space and safety to shift out of survival mode, warrior mode. May your body and mind come to know ease and rest. Let it be so.”
Dr. Thema Bryant
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