Footprints in the Sand (1964, unknown Author)
One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.When the last scene of my life shot before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand;
There was only one set of footprints.
I realized that this was at the lowest
and saddest times of my life.
This always bothered me,
and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.“Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You,
You would walk and talk with me all the way.
But I’m aware that during the most troublesome times of my life,
There is only one set of footprints.
I just don’t understand why, when I needed You most,
You leave me.”He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you.
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.”
As a child, one constant in my father’s house always caught my attention, a frame with a message that left an indelible mark on me.
From time to time, I would kneel before that frame, silently reflecting on its words: Footprints…
Over the years, those words became etched into the fabric of my being, shaping my perspective on challenges, trials, and tests of my faith. They influenced how I approached and viewed life’s difficulties, offering me a sense of strength and purpose.
The Word of God deeply anchored this message in my heart, reinforcing its power within me. It has carried me through life’s toughest moments, through days, months, and even years of uncertainty, healing, betrayals and trials.
No matter how challenging the journey, I have always held on to one salient truth: I do not walk alone.
Remember when Joshua was called to succeed Moses? Those were some big shoes to fill. God fully understood how overwhelmed Joshua felt, the fear, the insecurities. Moses had achieved so much that he was regarded almost like a god by the Israelites.
Can you imagine how Joshua felt? He faced an enormous task ahead: countless battles to fight and win, the daunting responsibility of leading the people, and the Promised land still waiting to be claimed. Even the people didn’t exactly help ease his anxiety. In Joshua 1:17, they said, “Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses.” It was as though they were saying, “We’ll follow you, but only if God is with you!”
Yet, in His boundless grace, God reassured Joshua. He promised him, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).
Similarly, God made a promise to Jacob when he fled from Esau. He assured him, “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Genesis 28:15).
One of the final promises Jesus made before His crucifixion was that He would not leave us without a Comforter, and He meant it.
Jesus Christ ensured that we would never be alone. He sent the Holy Spirit to be with us, to guide, instruct, walk alongside us, work through us, and be our everything. (John 14:16-18)
In Matthew 28:20, Jesus declares, “I am with you always, perpetually, and on every occasion, even to the very end of the age. Amen (so let it be).” In fact, His name, Emmanuel, means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
Are you brokenhearted? He is near to you (Psalm 34:18).
Are you walking through the valley of the shadow of death or facing the storms of life? He is closer to you than you can imagine (Psalm 23:4). He has promised: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Today, I invite you to come into a consciousness that you are never alone. I believe God wants you to know that He is with you always.
Meditative Declaration/Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for being with me always, even to the end of the age. I stand confident that You who began a good work in me will carry it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.
Key Scriptures
Matthew 1, Genesis 28, Joshua 1.
