Dericka Canada Cunningham, GBW Founder
January 30, 2023
This Week's Anchor
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.”
Hebrews 6:19-20a
Welcome to another year of Grounded Black Women devotions! We are honored to be on another year’s journey with you and we pray that your year is already bringing new inspiration and a deeper sense of purpose. As the weeks have passed in this first month of the year, I’ve found myself continuously grateful for God’s unwavering presence. The days roll, the weeks unfold, the months move, the years turn, and yet, God remains the same. Unmoving. Unchanged. Holding us steady despite the whirlwind of life all around us.
In typical God fashion, a particular moment inspired me and ignited this posture of gratitude for God’s firm foundation. A few weeks ago, my husband was invited to deliver a keynote sermon for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day service hosted by a fellow church in our faith community. It was my husband’s first time preaching in a while; therefore, it was important for me to come along in support. We brought our daughter who, like most toddlers, can be unpredictably temperamental, so as queen mom, I braced myself for how this service could play out. As we began to make the planned 45-minute drive, we realized we had somehow missed the forecasted snowstorm that invaded our commute. To say the least, our nerves were flying as we prepared to celebrate this MLK, Jr. Day.
An hour or so later, we finally arrived at a cozy church with an intimate congregation located in a quaint town in Massachusetts. Although different from our typical church experience in Boston, and despite the stress and the small crowd of folks who weathered the storm to join us, God offered the perfect tender moment. As the worship team gave their final pre-sermonic song, one of the leaders led a solo—a throwback to 90s-era Christian music and a song of Ray Boltz’s, The Anchor Holds. The lyrics sing:
I have journeyed Through the long, dark night Out on the open sea
By faith alone Sight unknown And yet His eyes were watching me
The anchor holds Though the ship is battered The anchor holds Though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees As I faced the raging seas The anchor holds In spite of the storm
Not only was this song nostalgic, but it reminded me of God’s faithfulness and steadiness in the literal storm and stress that my husband and I endured to make it to this service. It, of course, also resonated with me personally and spiritually. At the time I felt mentally and emotionally exhausted. The year had just started, work hadn’t even picked up, and I was already counting the weeks to my next vacation. If I keep it even more 100, this devotional community had been placed on hold as I tried to catch my breath and find rest from the previous year, and the guilt of not relaunching sooner weighed heavy on me. I didn’t feel as connected to God and wasn’t as consistent with meditation and prayer. Simply put, I felt a bit off my game. Nevertheless, as the words of this song entered my heart, I felt God’s presence. It was as if God kept whispering, “and yet, the anchor holds”. Despite my disconnection, and regardless of how battered and depleted I felt, the anchor was still holding me, even when I didn’t notice it.
As our anchor scripture shares, this moment truly secured me in hope. I don’t have clever tips or lists this week, but I humbly offer you this same hope. I know new years are supposed to be filled with excitement, vision boards, and new beginnings, but a new year or not, life be lifin’. We hold space for the newness and joy of the year while also acknowledging the tiredness of keeping up with life transitions, the exhaustion of cumulative grief and trauma, the stress of trying to stay healthy, the worry of wandering and wondering “what’s next?”, and more. We honor it all and…we hand it over to a God who can hold it all. Wherever we are, He’s holding us. However we feel, He’s holding us. And whatever comes, He's holding us. Above all else in this new year, may we be grounded and deeply rooted in the strong foundation of the Holy Trinity. May we wander but never get lost. And may we have faith and hope in the Anchor that eternally holds.
Reflection
What is resonating for you about this scripture and/or this devotion?
What do you need from the Holy Trinity to help you feel anchored?
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
Psalm 61: 1-8
Psalm 62:1-6
Isaiah 33:6
Luke 22:25-32
Hebrews 4:14-16
Hebrews 6:13-20
My Through-the-Week Reflection Guide
A Song of Inspiration
Quote of Love & Liberation
“People asked me how was I able to do this and raise four children at the same time.
I can only reply that when God calls you to a great task, he provides you with the strength to accomplish what he has called you to do . . .”
Coretta Scott King
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