Uniquely Gifted
- Dericka Canada Cunningham
- 16 hours ago
- 5 min read
Dericka Canada Cunningham, GBW Founder
August 17, 2026
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. Taking the leap of faith to answer the call God has for our lives can be scary. 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. 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 notice and listen intentionally. In fact, we can read, watch, or hear something several times before it really hits us in a meaningful way. And this week, the sanctified church of Disney delivers a timely message about the power of our unique spiritual gifts.
Those of you who have raised or cared for children can understand how repetitive almost everything is with kids. If a child loves a song, show, or movie, you will engage with it over and over and over again, whether you like it or not. One of my daughter’s favorite Disney films is Encanto. A movie I personally enjoy, Encanto tells the story of the Madrigals, a family nestled in the mountains of Colombia who carry magical gifts that enchant their small community. The main character, Mirabel, is the only member of her family whose gift has not manifested like the others’. In this movie, we follow Mirabel as she grapples with the disappointment of feeling different from her family and journeys to understand her purpose. The movie ends with the realization of the important role Mirabel plays in her family’s preservation and restoration, and we discover her unique gift: ultimately being the glue that holds her family together. Over the years, my daughter and I have watched this movie time and time again. Each time we watch, I reflect on Encanto's themes and messages and can’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 12 reminds us of the well-known thief of truth that comparison can be.
Our anchor scripture sets the stage by providing the context in which God uses us. 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 we might have (vs. 7-11), and later uses the metaphor of the body to beautifully illustrate the importance of each of us, along with our gifts, 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 this scripture marinate. Because in a world that consistently tells us we are not enough, this scripture calls us to reclaim that we are more than enough and 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 God created in each of us. This means no one can “do” your gift the way God called 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
Tuesday: Romans 8:26-30; Romans 12:3-8
Wednesday: 1 Corinthians 12
Thursday: Ephesians 4:1-6
Friday: Philippians 2:12-18
Saturday: 2 Timothy 1:6-10
Sunday: 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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