“FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND”
This well known reading is not from the Bible, but it is certainly consistent with what the Bible says about how God carries us in our “times of trial and suffering.” This can be seen in the following verses:
Deuteronomy 1:31 — In the wilderness you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.
Exodus 19:4 — (The Lord said), “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”
Isaiah 46:3-4 — (God says), “Listen to me… you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.“
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This next reading is probably not as well known as the first one, but it is a humorous take-off on that other more familiar reading. It’s message is a bit harsher, but is also consistent with what the Bible says about how God will leave us, and will allow us to go it on our own, if that is what we insist on doing. The Bible verses following the reading make that point.
“BUTT PRINTS IN THE SAND”
But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord, “What have we here?”
Those prints are large and round and neat,
“But Lord, they are too big for feet.”
“My child,” He said in somber tones,
“For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait.”
“You disobeyed, you would not grow,
The walk of faith, you would not know,
So I got tired, I got fed up’
And there I dropped you on your butt.”
“Because in life, there comes a time,
When one must fight, and one must climb,
When one must rise and take a stand,
Or leave their butt print in the sand.”
–Author Unknown
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Luke 13:34 — (Jesus said), “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”
Proverbs 1:24, 25, 26b, 27b, 28 — Since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand; since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke… I will mock when calamity overtakes you… when distress and trouble overwhelm you. Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.
Isaiah 59:2 — Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Romans 1:28 — Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
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ISAIAH 63:9-10:
9- In all their distress he too was distressed,
and the angel of his presence saved them.
In his love and mercy he redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them
all the days of old. (carried them)
10- Yet they rebelled
and grieved his Holy Spirit.
So he turned and became their enemy
and he himself fought against them. (dropped them)