Footprints

The Spy Kids series of movies are fun to watch. In Spy Kids 3D: Game Over, much of the story takes place in a virtual reality game world. Young Juni's mission is to play through all the levels of the game in order to find and rescue his sister. Each level of gameplay is filled with dangers, challenges, and opposition. At one point, Juni is offered the opportunity to invite someone from his family to assist him through the game. He chooses his grandfather. Juni still has to face all the challenges on his own, but whenever it seems that all is lost, Grandpa comes in to lend a helping hand.



This reminds me of a poem that's been around for many decades. It's found on greeting cards, calendars, bookmarks, and a variety of other places. It is titled, "Footprints in the Sand" by Mary Stevenson. I can appreciate the author's good intentions, but I disagree somewhat with the message of the poem. Here are the final few lines:

But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you."

Official "Footprints in the Sand" Website

While it is comforting to believe that the Lord will carry us in our greatest times of need, I don't think that is a true concept. I've been through some very trying times in my life: the loss of loved ones, financial distress, heart-ache, and illness among other things. I have never felt that I've been carried through any of those trials. It seems rather that if I were to look back at the footprints in the sand of my life I would see a single set of prints during the less troubling times, but a second set in my times of most desperate need. The Lord doesn't carry us but he does love us enough to walk with us during our trials; lifting us, assisting us, but never doing the walking for us. We have to take each step of the way with our own two feet.

Alma describes the succor of the Lord in this manner:
"And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me."
(Book of Mormon, Alma 36:27)

The Lord himself has also promised us peace in troubling times:
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
(New Testament, John 14:27)

It would be great to have someone like Juni's Grandpa just pop in whenever we most need him. On the other hand, it is wonderful to know that we can rely on a loving Heavenly Father to give us aid, comfort, and direction when we most need it. All we have to do is ask. I truly believe that.

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