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Foot Prints......in the Sand
You see, I loved you so much so--I gave you your own will, Although you've m
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life. This really bothered him and he questioned
the LORD about it.
"LORD, You said that once I decided to follow
you, You would walk with me all the way. But
I have noticed that during the most troublesome
times of my life, there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed You most
You would leave me."
The LORD replied,
"My son, My precious child, I love you and I
would never leave you. During your times of
trial and suffering, when you see only one
set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.
Footprints II
In another dream that followed again he asked once more about the footprints of his life left along the shore.
"Dear Lord, It's now quite clear to me that You were always there and that You never left my side when I was in despair. But how could You have led me through such troubled times as those? If You love me as you say you do why did I face such woes?
For I followed where You led me. You know You've been my guide. So why was I to suffer, when upon you I relied? And though You carried me at times--deciding my direction; I still wonder why You let me stray away from your protection? "
"My child," the Lord softly said, "though I've walked with you each day; I never led the path we took nor let you walk astray. When you look upon those footprints lying in the sand You'll see I merely walked with you and gently held your hand.
For the life I gave to you is yours. And though I love you dear. The path you followed you had choose though I was always near. And though it's true, I carried you during times of pain and strife. You decided where I left those footprints in your life.
You see, I loved you so much so--I gave you your own will, Although you've made mistakes, my child; you know I've loved you still.
For you had chose to live along the path left by my Son and though your steps fell short of his, through Him you now live on! "
Footprints III
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together.
For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures and returns. For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints, that once etched the sand next to Jesus', are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, safely you and Jesus are becoming one. This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints; they have become one.
This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags are all over the place. Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends.
Now you pray: "Lord, I understand the first scene with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But you walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you."
"That is correct."
"... and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps; following you very closely."
"Very good. You have understood everything so far."
"... when the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like you in many ways."
"Precisely."
"So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first,"
There is a pause as the Lord answered with a smile in His voice.
"You didn't know? That was when we danced."
You see, I loved you so much so--I gave you your own will, Although you've m
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life. This really bothered him and he questioned
the LORD about it.
"LORD, You said that once I decided to follow
you, You would walk with me all the way. But
I have noticed that during the most troublesome
times of my life, there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed You most
You would leave me."
The LORD replied,
"My son, My precious child, I love you and I
would never leave you. During your times of
trial and suffering, when you see only one
set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.
Footprints II
In another dream that followed again he asked once more about the footprints of his life left along the shore.
"Dear Lord, It's now quite clear to me that You were always there and that You never left my side when I was in despair. But how could You have led me through such troubled times as those? If You love me as you say you do why did I face such woes?
For I followed where You led me. You know You've been my guide. So why was I to suffer, when upon you I relied? And though You carried me at times--deciding my direction; I still wonder why You let me stray away from your protection? "
"My child," the Lord softly said, "though I've walked with you each day; I never led the path we took nor let you walk astray. When you look upon those footprints lying in the sand You'll see I merely walked with you and gently held your hand.
For the life I gave to you is yours. And though I love you dear. The path you followed you had choose though I was always near. And though it's true, I carried you during times of pain and strife. You decided where I left those footprints in your life.
You see, I loved you so much so--I gave you your own will, Although you've made mistakes, my child; you know I've loved you still.
For you had chose to live along the path left by my Son and though your steps fell short of his, through Him you now live on! "
Footprints III
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together.
For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures and returns. For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints, that once etched the sand next to Jesus', are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, safely you and Jesus are becoming one. This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints; they have become one.
This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags are all over the place. Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends.
Now you pray: "Lord, I understand the first scene with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But you walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you."
"That is correct."
"... and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps; following you very closely."
"Very good. You have understood everything so far."
"... when the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like you in many ways."
"Precisely."
"So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first,"
There is a pause as the Lord answered with a smile in His voice.
"You didn't know? That was when we danced."