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 belonged 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 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