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 the most you would leave me."

The LORD replied. "My precious, 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."

A Different Version of "Footprints"
Author Unknown

Imagine that you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the beach 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.

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 beside the Master's are now precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your small "sandprints", safely enclosed. You and Jesus are becoming one. This goes on for many miles.

Then you notice another change. The smaller footprint inside the larger footprint seems to grow larger. Eventually it disappears altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one.

This goes on for a long time. But then something awful happens. The second set of footprints is back. And this time it seems even worse. Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of prints. You are shocked and amazed. But this is the end of your dream.

Now you speak. "Lord, I understand the first scene with the zigzags and stops and starts and so on. I was a new Christian, just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you."

The Lord replies, "That is correct."

"Yes, and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps. I followed You very closely."

Jesus responds, "Very good. You have understood everything so far."

"Then the smaller footprints grew and eventually filled in with Yours. I suppose that I was actually growing so much that I was becoming like You in many ways."

"Precisely," says the Lord.

"But this is my question, Lord. Was there a regression or something? The footprints went back to two sets, and this time it was worse than the first."