Dericka Canada Cunningham, GBW Founder
November 6, 2023
This Week's Anchor
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)
A couple of months ago, I experienced an unexpectedly heartwarming moment in the form of a package from my parents. The week before, I traveled to my parents’ home in Myrtle Beach, and despite my older age, I returned to my childlike ways of going “shopping” at my parents’ house during my visit. I had my eyes set on a family gift of “fine china” that I knew would go perfectly in my dining room. The only problem—packing a several-piece dinnerware set in my carry-on bag wasn’t gonna work. So, my mother gave in to my shopping plan and made arrangements for the items to be shipped.
A week later the package arrived at my home in MA. I retrieved the package and initially wasn’t confident that every delicate item survived the shipping process. Yet, as I opened the large box, I was quickly reassured that everything was just fine. Like a true Black mama, my mother had wrapped each piece with an unbelievable amount of care and thoughtfulness. There was bubble wrap, newspaper, tissue paper, and towels, and she even got my dad in on the process by having him create “fragile” labels that covered the entire box. As I unwrapped each item my heart became full. Here I was, a 35+-year-old woman, a mother myself, and I was moved by the love and care my parents had for just a simple gift that I had a desire for.
A wave of gratitude rushed over me, and as I reflected on my thankfulness for my parents, God whispered to my heart, “…and this is how I care for you too.” With this in mind, I considered all the ways my parents’ tender love for me reflects God’s unconditional and abundant love for us. Just like the thoughtful package my parents sent; God handles every aspect of our lives with divinely purposeful care. And like this week’s anchor scripture affirms, nothing can separate from God’s love and care. Many of us are likely familiar with this scripture. As a young kid who grew up in the Bible Belt of the South, I remember hearing and quoting this scripture often. This scripture highlights the courage and confidence we can have in our faith walk with God and Christ. And also…in declaring that nothing can separate us from the love of God, it eerily reminds us that many things will try (i.e., death, demons, powers, etc.). God doesn’t promise us that we won’t be pulled in many directions, but He does promise that no matter what or who pulls us, like the dinnerware set, we are connected to and protected by intentional and endless love.
Thinking back to that meaningful package moment, I recall how the items my parents sent didn’t quite look like what they went through. In fact, the box they were in told a different story. I imagine in the package’s route to my house, it was shaken up, bumped, and rained on, nevertheless, the items in it were prepared, protected, and not damaged. Doesn’t this sound a lot like us? Shaken up, but not damaged. Prepared and therefore, predestined to persist. Instead of dinnerware, it’s our hearts, desires, dreams, and healing that are nestled within the package of God’s purpose. And instead of a well-bundled box, it’s in His loving and caring hands that our precious lives are protected. As the childhood song sings, “He’s got the whole world in His hands”, and that world includes each of us.
This experience was a great reminder for me that we’re never too old to be cared for. From the tender care of our parents, friends, family, or partner, to the concern of our co-workers, neighbors, and community, to the affirming Words of God—It’s all a part of Him holding us. He’s got every aspect of our lives in His hands and in His hands, we are more than conquerors because in His hands is unconquerable love. His hands can hold it all if only we’d just place it there. It is my prayer this week that we surrender our lives to God’s hands, having the reassuring faith that in His love, He will handle them with divine care.
Reflection
What is resonating for you about this scripture and/or this devotion?
What do you need from the Holy Trinity to embrace God’s love and care for you?
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 31:8
Psalm 55
Matthew 11:28-30
John 15:1-8
Philippians 4:6-7
1 Peter 5:6-7
My Through-the-Week Reflection Guide
A Song of Inspiration
Quote of Love & Liberation
“As a Black Woman, I define self-care as the ability to safely and comfortably exhale.”
Bethanee
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