Many people love the saying of "Footprints". thousands have it in one way or another on their walls or in their hearts. It is ubiquitous and uplifting. It presents the idea that when I am in trouble God picks me up and carries me through that troubled time. I do believe that happens sometimes.
When I went through my dark time of the soul. I pleaded for God to rescue me, pick me up and carry me through but when I never felt God doing that I became more depressed, more isolated, more despairing. Either God did not care for me or there was something wrong with me that God could not care for me.
After I came out of the darkness of despair into the a new perspective of presence, I rewrote the footprints saying in different words.
I was in a dark place, the valley of the shadow of death. It was a place of darkness and light but at first all I could see is darkness. I noticed that as I walked though the valley of the shadow of death, I was walking on the sandy seashore of God's presence. I noticed there was only one set of footprints on the sandy shore. Previously there were two sets of footprints mine and God's. I had felt God with me, walking with me and talking with me. God was alongside of me. I loved those times. They were great times. But now why was I alone. One set of footprints?
Then I heard God whisper to me. Those were the times when life was so rough, things were so terrible, you lost sight of me. I was inside you, not just alongside of you. Hidden in the hurt and pain or your living I was there giving you strength from the inside out. When you do not notice me I am the most present in you.
I realized that God had not rescued me to teach me of God's inner presence greatest when I feel alone.
I am never alone. Sometimes I am carried through difficult times other times I am strengthened by the sense of God is in me regardless of anything that goes on outside of me.
Walk in love and peace and love and peace will be in you. Nurture love and peace in you and you will walk in peace. The road to peace is not to be rescued from conflict but to be at peace and walk in peace in the turmoil and trouble of conflict.
Footpritns of Peace. Originally posted in www.parakalein.blogspot.com July 23
