Esinam had spent the last few years of her life running. Not physically, but emotionally. Life had dealt her a harsh hand, she had lost her father unexpectedly, her marriage was on shaky ground and her once-bright career as an artist felt like a distant dream. Each morning, she woke up with a heavy heart, dragging herself through the day and wondering if she’d ever feel whole again.
One crisp autumn afternoon, Esinam decided to go for a walk in the forest near her home. She wasn’t sure why, she wasn’t particularly outdoorsy, but something about the stillness of the trees called to her. She needed a break from the chaos inside her mind.
As she walked, the leaves crunched beneath her feet and the cool air filled her lungs. She felt a strange calm, though she couldn’t explain it. After wandering for a while, she came across a small clearing where a single, ancient oak tree stood tall and proud. Something about it drew Esinam in. She sat beneath its sprawling branches, staring up at its golden leaves shimmering in the sunlight.
For the first time in a long time, she began to pray. “God,” she whispered, “if You’re there, I need You. My heart feels broken, my life feels directionless, and I don’t know where to go from here. Please, show me something. Anything.”
At that moment, a memory from her childhood surfaced. She remembered sitting in Sunday school, hearing the story of Moses and the burning bush. Her teacher had read Exodus 3:5: “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
Esinam opened her eyes. She wasn’t standing in front of a burning bush, but suddenly, the clearing felt different. Sacred, even. She realized that this moment, this quiet, unassuming moment in the middle of a forest was her holy ground. It was as if God was saying to her, “I see you. I’m here with you. Take off your sandals, Esinam. Your pain, your doubts, your fears, leave them here. I am with you.”
Tears brimmed in her eyes as she removed her shoes and stood barefoot on the cool earth. She felt the soil beneath her feet, grounding her in a way she hadn’t experienced in years. She closed her eyes again and breathed deeply, feeling the weight of her burdens begin to lift.
Esinam didn’t hear God’s voice audibly, but in her heart, she felt Him speaking: “You are not forgotten. I have a plan for you. Trust Me.”
From that day on, Esinam began to see her life differently. She didn’t dismiss her pain or pretend everything was fine, but she learned to approach each day with a new reverence, knowing that God was present in every moment, even the ordinary ones. She began to paint again, pouring her emotions onto the canvas in ways she never had before. Her marriage began to heal as she invited God into the broken places. And though she still missed her father deeply, she found comfort in knowing that God held her heart and her father’s in His hands.
Whenever she felt overwhelmed, Esinam would return to the forest clearing. She called it her “holy ground,” a sacred space where she could lay down her burdens and be reminded of God’s presence. She even painted a portrait of the oak tree, hanging it in her home as a daily reminder of the day she encountered God in the stillness.
Esinam’s life didn’t become perfect, but it became sacred. She learned that holy ground isn’t just found in burning bushes or grand miracles, it’s found in the quiet moments when we let God meet us where we are. And just as God called Moses to something greater, Esinam realized He was calling her too.
Heavenly Father, I pray for my reader who may feel lost, burdened, or unsure of their path. Just as You revealed Yourself to Moses in the wilderness, reveal Yourself to them in the midst of their challenges. Remind them, Lord, that wherever they stand, You are there with them, and that place is holy ground. Help them to lay down their fears, doubts, and pain, trusting that You have a purpose for their life. Guide their steps, renew their hope, and fill their heart with peace. May they feel Your presence in the ordinary moments and know that You are calling them to something greater. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
