Finding Hope in Hagar's Story: A Black Woman's Journey after the 2024 Election

Sister Soul Care

Overview

It’s hard not to take it personally, but I am not surprised. Black women have always written this country the best love letters, yet once again, we receive hate letters in return. This election feels like the strongest hate letter we’ve received since slavery. It says that no matter how much we love and how much we contribute, we are still being told that we don’t matter. Our voices don’t matter. Our presence, though necessary, is unwanted.

As Black women, this isn’t something we can just ‘get past,’ but it is something we must navigate. We cannot lose hope simply because the country is still holding on to the past. Our ancestors would not have wanted that for us. So, I’m going to use this episode to do what I plan to do on this podcast, which is to help Black women on their journey to wholeness in Christ Jesus.

Today, we’ll connect with another woman who truly understands our struggles—a Biblical woman from the Mother Continent, an Egyptian who was oppressed and then abandoned. Her name was Hagar. Let’s revisit her story and explore what it means for us as Black women in America, especially after the 2024 election.

The prayer method we used was Imaginative Prayer, also known as Ignatian Contemplation. In this practice, we enter a passage of scripture using our imagination, and we commune with the Holy Spirit to experience the world of the text up close. We engage our senses and allow the people of yesterday’s text to speak to our lives today.

Our focus text was Genesis 16, which talks about the story of Hagar. We used the CEV translation of the text.

Reflection Questions

1. What has God said to you?
2. What would you like to say to God?
3. How does Hagar’s story relate to our story as Black women in this nation?
4. How does her story intersect with your individual story as a Black woman?
5. What does it mean to you that Hagar was the first person to name God in scripture?
6. What do you want to remember from this time with God?
7. What do you need from God at this time in your life?

Closing Prayer

God, even though recent events may make us feel unseen by this nation, we know that you see us. Let us not forget our worth as beloved daughters of God. As we grieve this rejection, strengthen us to continue the fight for dignity and justice. Remind us to care for ourselves, lean on your strength, and remember that the battle is yours, even as you work through our hands, feet, and hearts. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.