The poem, “Footprints in the Sand” is probably one of the most well-known inspirational poems in circulation. It is known by Christians and non-Christians; you see it on posters, mugs, and greeting cards. What makes this poem popular is not marketing or commercials. In its most widely circulated form only the words Author Anonymous take credit for the poem. No, this poem is well known because of its simple and powerful message: God is always with you, and even in the darkest most difficult times of your life, he is still with you. In fact, he carries you in your weakest moments. Here is the poem:

“F O O T P R I N T S”

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 in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.

“Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You, You’d walk with me all

the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in 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 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.”

Author Unknown

What makes this poem so powerful is the question the man asks to the Lord. He asks, “Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?” The man in the poem asks the question that many of us feel in our own hearts. Our hearts identify with the feelings and emotions that this man felt and we are really drawn in as we relate to his question. With that, we hear the Lord’s response that makes it all make sense. Oh, so that’s why I only saw one set of footprints, because you carried me. We at once see things from a different, bigger perspective and our hearts are satisfied and encouraged by the answer.

I believe his question really strikes at the issue which is most important to our hearts. Some people might look at the history of their lives and question God, “how could you let me experience such pain?” However, this man did not look at the past of his life and say, “God, why did you let me go through that terrible time?” His heart is more troubled by the question, “were you really there for me through that time?” 

Were you really there for me through that time?

Many of us ask that question during tough and difficult times in our lives, but sometimes we ask that question when things are not so difficult. When things are just okay, maybe a little boring. When there’s drama and hardship, many will cling harder and pray even more to God and receive comfort from him during those storms. But how about when there are no visible storms? When things are just kind of normal, and our hearts question, is God really there for me right now, is he really walking next to me? 

In the “Footprints” poem, we see that this man had a revelation into God’s love. He saw that it was even greater than he first thought. He thought God would walk with him always, and when he saw only one set of footprints, he thought, “oh gosh, he wasn’t walking with me, maybe he left me?” He left his dream with an even greater view of God’s love and faithfulness then when he first began. In his heart he says, “You are even more loving than the God who walks with me always. You are the God who carries me when I don’t have the strength to walk.”

You are even more loving than the God who walks with me always. You are the God who carries me when I don’t have the strength to walk.

In the same way, I believe God wants to give us a greater understanding of His love for us. I think he wants to take us to a new level of knowing His love during these times when we feel so spiritually dry and distant from God. He doesn’t want us to conclude, “Oh I don’t feel God, so I guess he’s not here. I feel like his love for me has stopped.” No, he wants us to say, “Oh wait, I don’t feel God here with me, his love for me is even greater than I thought.”  In the desert times, God loves you in a deeper way than when things feel great and close to him. If you’ve been in a stage in your life when you’ve felt really close to God and find yourself in a stage where you wonder if he’s even there, you are ripe to discover the knowledge of God’s sustaining grace.

You are ripe to discover the knowledge of God’s sustaining grace.

1. Observation - What emotion is coming up for you?

2. Understanding - Is there a thought behind it?

3. Application - Is the thought true? If not, write down the truth.