When my youngest brother was nine, he and my dad went to the supermarket. They split up to gather different items when they heard gunshots. Four men had entered the building. My dad quickly got my brother’s attention and had him duck down. My brother rolled and hid under a fridge during the traumatic ordeal.
Fortunately, everyone was safe, but my brother never wanted to return to that supermarket. For him, it became a place of fear and trauma. This experience got me thinking: Is there a place you avoid due to fear or painful memories? Maybe you’re currently in a place of pain, suffering, or loss. It could be the ground where you lost health, a loved one, or experienced a broken relationship.
This brings to mind the story of Moses. If being a Bible character was an Olympic sport, Moses would have multiple gold medals. He is a Hall of Fame figure in the Bible. There’s a moment in the Scriptures where God appears to Moses as a fire in a burning bush. God tells Moses, “Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing is holy ground.“
Interestingly, God has to tell Moses this because, from his perspective, he is on undesirable ground. He is on the ground of regret, anger, frustration, and lost opportunities. But God declares that this ground is holy. The ground becomes holy when God steps onto it. The fire makes the ground sacred, transforming it into a place where God works in your favour.
From this holy ground, Moses’s life changed. He pivoted and moved towards becoming the legendary figure we know. This raises a question: Could the worst ground you stand on also be the most sacred?
As a pastor, I hear many stories of past pain and suffering. People often say they never want to revisit those moments. Yet, they also express gratitude for the experiences because they shaped who they are today. The worst ground they stood on often becomes the most sacred in hindsight, working in their favour.
So, what ground are you standing on today? Do you find yourself in a place you don’t want to be? The question is, will you take your sandals off? Will you believe what God says about the ground you are on? Will you open yourself up to it, allowing it to work on your soul? Or will you keep your sandals on, refusing to believe this ground could be holy?
Imagine if Moses had refused to take his sandals off. Would we even know his name today? My prayer for everyone is to become a barefoot walker. As you look back, may all the ground that has your bare footprints become holy and sacred ground.
This is a midweek motivation message by Wayne Becker, from our Relationships Team. Listen to his full message below.