“One night, a man had a dream. He dreamed that he was walking along a beautiful 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, the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of the man’s life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He was aware that many times along the path of his life that there was only one set of footprints. He also saw that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered the man, 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.’”