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 one I decided to follow you,
you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome time 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 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 I
that I carried you.”