Dericka Canada Cunningham, GBW Founder
February 3, 2025

This Week's Anchor
“Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins."
Psalm 130 (NIV)
As we empowered each other in our Divine ability to defy gravity in last week’s devotion, our former anchor scripture reminded us of the power that waiting on God can provide us (Isaiah 40:31). As I wrapped up that devotion, I couldn’t help but think more about the seasons of waiting that we often find ourselves in on this journey called life. In fact, many of us can agree that our present sociopolitical climate feels like one big collective season of waiting. It’s easy to wait when what you are waiting for is nigh and what you are waiting in is hopeful. But every now and then, and sometimes more often than we’d like, we find ourselves in seasons like the one we are in now, where a new day seems lightyears away, and the wait between now and the next chapter feels brutal to bear. These seasons are those of which we depend immensely on our Faith to trudge through.
When I read scriptures about waiting on God as a young girl, the concept of spiritually waiting felt incredibly passive. I would imagine one sitting back peacefully and letting God handle everything until it was ready, almost like waiting for an order at a restaurant. However, as I lived a little more life and was offered some of that good ole on-the-Christ-following-job experience, I came to understand the degree of wading that happens amid our waiting. Exactly what does that mean besides a lovely play on words? Well…we have our ancestors to help us out with this one…
Some of you can relate to a childhood similar to my own, growing up in a little country Black church in the South in the 1900s. If your church experience was anything like mine, no matter how progressive Kirk Franklin and his lil’ friends were becoming with their radical gospel music, each Sunday, we had a designated moment in our service where we sang a hymn from the unforgettable, red-bound African American Heritage Hymnal. As a kid, I did not get it. I mean, why sing these old, tired songs when we could be jammin’ out to God’s Property, right? But, oh, when they said we would understand it better by and by, they meant that, because now that I am older and wiser, it’s those hymns that get me through. Their words, melodies, and stories carry such meaning for our communities. And to be honest, as much as I love my new-aged Spotify Rhythm & Praise playlist, as the new year turned and I felt the gravity of where we are as a nation, world, and people, I found myself right back at the hymns of our ancestors for hope, perspective, and encouragement.
A few years ago, I felt so compelled to reconnect with our hymns and pass their empowerment and wisdom onto my child that I purchased an African American Heritage Hymnal to keep in our home. As I recently pondered more about wading through the weight we all feel these days, a hymn that many of us are familiar with came to mind: Wade in the Water.
Wade in the water,
Wade in the water, children,
wade in the water.
God’s gonna trouble the water.
(Hymn #676, African American Heritage Hymnal, 2001)
Growing up, I knew this song as the baptism song, as it was sung to ease an individual into the baptismal pool at our church. But this hymn's true meaning and power lie in its historical context, all of which parallel with the tone of our anchor scripture this week. This spiritual, known as jubilee song, is traced to enslaved Black/African/African American individuals and was used by Harriet Tubman herself. Harriet, a freedom leader, abolitionist, and Underground Railroad conductor, used many spirituals to relay messages to enslaved folks as she attempted to guide them to liberation. This song, in particular, was used to alert those escaping enslavement to get off the trail and into the water to ensure the dogs and slavecatchers couldn’t sniff out their path, as people walking through water did not leave a scent that dogs could follow [1].
In this way, wading in the water was both active and intentional. They didn’t sit or float in the water; they moved through the water mindfully to preserve the path they had taken. The times we are facing now cannot at all be compared to the times of our ancestors. There is no comparison; nevertheless, something about our present times feels, at the very least, reminiscent of these moments shared through the meaning of the song Wade in the Water and the sentiments expressed in our anchor scripture. To pass through this season of fear, hatred, genocide, and erasure and to preserve ourselves and our communities, we will have to wade in these turbulent waters.
So, how can we wade through the weight and wait in modern times? Continuing with the spirit of our ancestors, we, foremost, need to be connected and grounded together. The Underground Railroad would not have existed without deep collective commitment. Furthermore, these powerful spirituals would not have been effective then or later passed through generations without connection and community. Ancient wisdom reminds us, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together” (quoted as an African Proverb). The battle we find ourselves in right now is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. And to sustain ourselves and go the long distance, we will need to foster a few meaningful relationships in our lives: Our relationships with a) The Holy Trinity, b) Ourselves, and c) Our Communities. It’s important to note these relationships are interconnected and often form and evolve in interwoven ways. Here are some perspectives and ideas on how we can remain connected:
Holy Trinity | We must be spiritually grounded by any means necessary. The great thing about our God is that we can connect with him in many ways.
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Ourselves | The vehicle between connecting with God and connecting with others is our mind-body-spirit. If we don’t care for our mind-body-spirit, it’s impossible to care for or even be healthily connected with others. As we connect with God, our Spirits will be nurtured, but we also have to care for our physical and mental health. Prioritizing our minds and bodies might include:
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Our Communities | There are multiple layers and levels of connecting with others. Connection can look many different ways, whether through in-person engagement, phone calls, text messages, virtual meetings, social media, and/or other media. Being open to different ways of connecting and having variety is most important this season. Here are a few aspects of community as ideas for connection:
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Plainly put, like our ancestors, we need God, ourselves, and each other to get through these next few years. So, as we enter a new week and, finally, a new month, let us not wither away in disconnection and isolation but instead wade thoughtfully, lovingly, and purposefully together.
Reflection
What is resonating for you about this scripture and/or this devotion?
What do you need from the Holy Trinity to help you wade both internally and collectively?
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: Psalm 33:20-22
Wednesday: Psalm 86
Thursday: Psalm 107:1-3
Friday: Jeremiah 29:11-14
Saturday: Romans 12:9-21
Sunday: Romans 15:13
My Through-the-Week Reflection Guide
A Song of Inspiration
Quote of Love & Liberation
“Anytime you get more than a couple of Black women together,
you're creating this powerful mechanism for change.”
Kimberly Bryant
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