Dericka Canada Cunningham, GBW Founder
May 27, 2024
This Week's Anchors
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,
not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance
from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.
Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him
as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)
This week's devotion draws inspiration from the wise words of Min. Albaner C. Eugune, Jr. I encourage each of us to listen to his message in the video below and let these powerful words penetrate our hearts:
Min. Albaner named it well— the cumulative load of trying to support others in carrying their burdens while also carrying your own can be challenging. I identify strongly as “the friend who is always the friend” and the person who is often absorbing others’ concerns. With a strong core personality trait of empathy mixed with a calling for compassion sprinkled with a career centered on empowering others to heal, I naturally lead my life with listening and understanding. And if I keep it a buck, most days it can feel like both a blessing and a curse. Humbly put, I often find myself downright exhausted from extending myself to others. I love how God uses me. I’m passionate about this calling. And I am grateful for this career. Nonetheless, after wading with clients, family, and friends through deep currents of trauma, stress, and grief, I am usually depleted with what feels like nothing left to give.
When I feel empty in these moments, I often hear God’s voice echoing the words of our anchor scriptures. I couldn’t choose one anchor scripture this week because each meant so much to me. For any of you who, like me, find yourself overwhelmed by the weight of carrying your burdens along with those of others, I want you to hold these anchors close to your heart as I share how they resonate with me:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24 | Laboring in love for others is laboring in love through and for God. Why? Because God is love. When we show love, we are showing God to others. And showing God to others is the basis of our call as Christ-followers. We often misconstrue the concept of worship to be confined to the walls of the church building. Or, if we connect with worship in our private spaces, we see it as something that we do at a specific moment, to a particular song when we feel a specific way. But not only is worship a lifestyle, but worship is also a love-style. When we show up for a friend in need of affirmation, that’s worship. When we show patience with our children and intimate partners, that’s worship. When we give our time and gifts to others, that, too, is worship. We work for and worship God in our labor of love and support to others. |
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) | Our labor for God is not in vain because when we work for God, we are responding to our calling. And when we respond to our calling, we move toward our purpose. And when we move in our purpose, we shift the atmosphere. It’s beyond the physical and it’s bigger than us. When we love on and support others, we move spiritual mountains. Even if we don’t see the effects immediately, they are happening one ripple at a time. |
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10 | In the words of Min. Albaner, “God is not unfaithful to forget your labor of love.” God sees you. Even if they don’t see your work, He notices it. He feels your glory for Him through it. And because of this, as we pour into others, God is pouring into us. Even when we feel like we have nothing left in us, God gives us just a little more oil. Aren’t you grateful? |
As we enter another week of being pulled in and loaded from every direction, may we remember that our work and our love are not in vain. May we recognize our extension to others as our extension of worship to God. And may we carry each other knowing that God is carrying us—granting us every ounce of peace, grace, and restoration needed to carry on.
Reflection
What is resonating for you about this scripture and/or this devotion?
What do you need from the Holy Trinity to support you in supporting others?
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
Matthew 5:14-16
John 15:12-13
Acts 20:35
1 Corinthians 10:31-33
Ephesians 2:8-10
1 Thessalonians 5:11
My Through-the-Week Reflection Guide
A Song of Inspiration
Quote of Love & Liberation
"When you put love out in the world it travels, and it can touch people and reach
people in ways that we never even expected."
Laverne Cox