There are two pictures sitting in the windowsill above my kitchen sink. I often find myself reading them while doing dishes at night. One says, “Faith is knowing that life can be unpredictable but trusting that it will all work out for good.” The other bears the poem Footprints, which you can find below.
Footprints
Author Unknown
One night I had a dream.
I was walking along a beach with the Lord, and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
In each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints, side by side in the sand.
One was mine and one was the Lord’s.
When the last scene of my life appeared before me, I looked back,
and to my surprise, I saw that during the lowest and saddest times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints!
“Lord,” I cried, “you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk beside me all the way.
But during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why you left my side when I needed you the most.”
The Lord turned an looked at me,
His eyes filled with love.
“My precious child,” He said,
“I have never left you.
During your times of trial, where you only see one set of footprints,
that was when I was carrying you.”
Have you ever looked at something you see every day but suddenly it takes on a whole new meaning for you? Those pictures have been sitting in my window for more than a year now. But this week as I read them again for the thousandth time while doing dishes, the words took on new meaning. I have been walking through one of those times of trial that God has carried me through. This season of life is absolutely something I never could have predicted. When he and I started dating I truly thought we would make it through anything life threw at us. I really thought our love would stand the test of time. But here I stand, alone again. Even in these months of feeling so very alone and bereft, there wasn’t a second that I stood alone really. God was right here beside me the entire time. He’s been whispering truth into my heart even as He’s been stitching it back together. Scripture tells us that God works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Not some things. Not just the things that seem like they will work out for us. ALL THINGS! Even knowing that scripture and God’s promise to me through those words, I never thought there was any chance this situation would ever bring anything good my way. The unbearable pain I’ve been in has drawn me closer to God. He’s revealed to me a little bit more of the things He has for me. He’s renewed my hope and strengthened my faith. He brought me through the valley to stand on the mountaintop beside Him. The only thing I had to do to get here was listen.
Are you listening for God’s voice in the midst of your pain? Are you really hearing His whispered promises? He is standing there right beside you. All you have to do is let His voice guide you through the wilderness.
Godspeed,
Mollie <3
Only God can heal a broken heart, but there are things we can do to help foster self healing. This post is part of my series 31 Days of Self Healing. You can find the rest of the posts for this series here.
Leave a Reply