FootPrints in the Sand

I once read a story about a young man whose life was marked by repeated heartaches and discouragements. Several of his closest friends and family members died; his life goals were never attained; and financial trouble plagued him. Each day brought nothing but hardship and lonely times of crisis.

And then one night he had a vivid dream in which he saw himself walking along a windswept beach with the Lord. As they strode together against the gale, scenes from the young man's life flashed like lightning across the sky. Each scene, he noticed, was also depicted behind them in the sand as footprints- one set belonging to him, the other to the Savior.

When the last scene from the young man's life had lit up the evening sky, he turned and looked back at the ribbons of footprints crossing the shore. Something seemed odd. He dropped to his knees to examine the tracks more closely. Then he traced them back, remembering the scenes they corresponded with in his life.

Usually there was a double set of footprints, but at other times--often when he faced his biggest hardships--the second pair of footprints mysteriously disappeared. Confused, he turned to the Lord.

"I'm sorry, but none of this makes sense," he stammered. "We've walked together for a long time now, but I notice that during some of the roughest, most grueling moments of my life there is only one set of footprints in the sand. Why, Lord...," he fumbled for words, "how could you desert my side when I needed you the most?"

"My dear, precious child," the Lord said, drawing the young man close to his body, "I promised I would never leave your side no matter what. The double set of footprints assures you of that."

"But...," the young man began, pointing his finger behind him.

"When you look back and see just one pair of footprints," the Lord said, "it was then that I carried you."