Have you ever experienced being grounded by the Lord? A temporary halting of your normal routine so that He can take your face in His hands, look into your eyes and say, hear what I am saying to you!”? Maybe you are in that place right now. You’re in good company, my friend! It may feel like you are somehow defective, but you are not. Consider this …
Recently the fuel pump went out on my car. My husband was able to fix it, but I had to wait a couple of days until he had a day off to do it. From the moment the car would not start, I sensed the Lord wanted to use this situation to capture me for a few days. Rather than anxiety over the things I would be able to do now, I felt a familiar peace settle on my heart. I actually felt relieved. In addition to spending some sweet time with Him and hearing His heart on a few things, I also used the time to get caught up on some things around the house. It turned into an unplanned and unscheduled little mental and emotional stay-cation. My favorite mechanic fixed the car and I returned to my routine busy-ness.
Less than a week later, I went out to start the car and guess what? Yep. Same thing. It turns out the new fuel pump was bad. Here we go again. Wait two more days for David to have a day off to fix it. This time the message was clear. “You’re grounded.” Seriously? Doesn’t He know I have things to do and places to be? Of course He does. But He also knew that I needed to get still and quiet to hear more of His heart in preparation for what He is leading me into in this season. This “grounding” is not a disciplinary tactic like a timeout handed down as punishment. Rather, it is like an airplane being grounded for necessary maintenance and repairs. It is a temporary pulling out of the sky for the protection of everyone involved while all the systems are examined and any necessary repairs and replacements are made so the aircraft is safe to return to the air.
During this grounding and in the weeks that have followed, I have leaned into Him more closely and received even more downloads from Him – more instruction, more revelation, more of Him. All my systems are being examined and necessary repairs and replacements are being made. My priorities are being restructured. And what are the first four letters of the word “restructured”? REST. See where we’re going with this?
If you find yourself in a period of being grounded by the Lord, take heart. Do not listen to the lies that would tell you that you are being punished or that you are somehow less valuable to the Lord and His purposes. It is BECAUSE of your great value to Him that you have been taken aside for necessary maintenance and repairs. He loves you so much more than you can ever fathom!
This grounding will not last forever. It is like a divine reset that is a necessary part of our growing in Him. Ironically, this is my view while I am writing this. I am still very much in this process, but together He and I are going places! And He is working all things together for my good. (Romans 8:28) And He will do the same for you.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you he and a future.”
