Dericka Canada Cunningham, GBW Founder
February 5, 2024
This Week's Anchor
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working,
but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”
1 Corinthians 12: 4-6 (NIV)
Have you ever felt insecure about the spiritual gifts bestowed upon you or even questioned God’s purpose for your life? If you answered “yes”, let me assure you that you are not alone. As we discussed in last week’s devotion, it can be scary taking the leap of faith in answering the call that God has on our lives. Nevertheless, when God uses and affirms us despite our insecurities and fears, we are blessed with the opportunity to see God do what He does best—Divinely show up in ways we couldn’t even imagine.
For those who’ve journeyed with me for some time, you’ve come to know the peculiar ways that God speaks to me and the amazing inspiration I receive from some of the most unsuspecting spaces and places. Well, my dear GBW family, God did it again. This time He used the sanctified church of Disney to deliver a timely message on the power of our unique spiritual gifts. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I am consistently amazed at the clever ways God speaks to us when we open ourselves to intentionally notice and listen. In fact, we can read, watch, or hear something several times before it really hits us in a meaningful way. This is exactly what happened to me this week recently.
Those of you who have raised or cared for children can understand the repetitive nature of almost everything when it comes to kids. If there is a song, show, or movie that a child loves, you will engage with it over and over and over again whether you like it or not. My daughter recently developed a newfound interest in the Disney movie, Encanto. A movie that I personally enjoy, Encanto shares the story of the Madrigals, a family nestled in the mountains of Columbia who carry magical gifts that enchant their small community. The main character, Mirabel is the only member of her family whose gift has not quite manifested like that of others. In this movie, we follow the life of Mirabel as she grapples with the disappointment of feeling different than her family and goes on a journey to understand her purpose. The movie ends with the realization of the important part that Mirabel plays in her family’s preservation and restoration, and with this, we discover Mirabel’s unique gift of ultimately being the glue that holds her family together. As my daughter and I watched this movie for the 10th time, I reflected on the themes and messages of Encanto and couldn’t help but draw parallels between Mirabel’s experience and our own as Christ followers.
If we’re honest, many of us can see ourselves in Mirabel from a spiritual standpoint. We feel the tug of God calling us, but we look at ourselves and question what we have to offer. We don’t feel loud enough to lead, skilled enough to succeed, or brave enough to begin. And we observe others whose spiritual gifts seem bigger, brighter, and bolder, and feel incomplete and insignificant in comparison. Well, beloved, like the movie Encanto, 1 Corinthians chapter 12 renders us a great reminder of the notoriously known thief of truth that comparison can be.
Our anchor scripture sets up the stage by providing the context in which we are used by God. It identifies the great diversity of gifts among the community of Christ and clarifies that although there are many different gifts, forms of service and areas of work, all are unified to fulfill the sole purpose of the same Lord (vs. 4-6). This chapter goes on to name some of the various spiritual gifts that we might have (vs. 7-11) and it later uses the metaphor of the body to beautifully illustrate the importance of each of us, along with our gifts, in working together for Divine good (vs. 12-31).
Here, we are encouraged by several powerful truths:
We all belong and how we belong is important [v.15-17]
God made us exactly who He wants us to be, and that is meaningful to His purpose and Divine Will [vs. 18-20]
Each of us and our gift(s) are needed to the same extent as others—No person or gift is greater or lesser than another [vs. 21-24]
Our individual gifts work together for the collective good, and without any one of us, the collective good will suffer [vs. 25-26]
I want each of us to take a moment and let the message of this scripture marinate. Because in a world that consistently tells us that we are not enough, this scripture is our call to reclaiming we are more than enough and are divinely imperative to this thing called life. If God placed breath in your body and a yearning in your soul, it is declared that you are important! Not only are there different types of spiritual gifts, but a single gift can be used differently across individuals based on the unique characteristics that God created each of us with. This means that no one can “do” your gift the way called call you to—simply put, our gifts are tailor-made (i.e., one size fits YOU and only you).
Your gift might not place you front and center or make you the loudest in the room (or maybe it does, and that’s okay too), nonetheless, it still matters. Like that of Mirabel in the story of Encanto, some gifts are less obvious at the surface and manifest across time. Whether it’s the courage to break generational curses and engender transformational healing, the humility of being a welcoming face to church visitors who might otherwise feel uncomfortable, or the art of creating sacred spaces where kids, students, loved ones, and others can be seen and heard, each and every gift is meaningful. Your gift is meaningful, and you are needed in the body of Christ.
So, as we enter another week in our purpose, may we carry with us a renewed sense of courage in living out exactly who God is calling us to be. May our insecurities be gently nurtured, and our confidence be deeply nourished. And may we discover and rediscover the unique qualities that make us who we are and allow us to leave our Divine-ordained mark.
Reflection
What is resonating for you about this scripture and/or this devotion?
What spiritual gift(s) do you possess? What do you need from the Holy Trinity to help you to embrace this gift/these gifts?
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
Romans 8:26-30
Romans 12:3-8
1 Corinthians 12
Ephesians 4:1-6
Philippians 2:12-18
2 Timothy 1:6-10
1 Peter 1:10-12
My Through-the-Week Reflection Guide
A Song of Inspiration
Quote of Love & Liberation
“A woman's gifts will make room for her."
Hattie McDaniel
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