ONE STEP AT A TIME

Most have seen Footprints and the beautiful poem that addresses two sets of footprints, then only one. The person cries out to God about abandoning him in his time of need. God pointed out that those footprints were His, that the person had given up on himself.

I don't see this picture as the person who had started to give up on himself. It definitely wasn't God. Psalm 16:11 asks God "to show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy." So what I envsion is a follower of Jesus taking one step at a time.

It could even be one step taken back. But I don't see that as a problem. Well, yes and no. Anytime we take those steps backwards, we displease God. But our God is one of grace. We are forgiven. Comforting, isn't it?

Following the Lord is somewhat like Ray Bradbury's short story "A Sound of Thunder." In the story a group of tourists in the future are able to be transformed into the past via a time machine. They are warned, "Stay on the Path." Of course, one strays and finds out when he gets back to the future time that things are drastically different. From the air he breathes, to the language they speak, even to the newly elected president. All because he, the tourist, veered off the path, and sadly as he finds out , he stepped on a butterfly on his journey back in time. The niche was ruined and history was altered.

When we veer off God's path we find in Psalm 30:5 "His anger endures but a moment; in His favor is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." What a blessing! Yes, we may pay for our disobedience, but it won't be forever. If we repent, we'll find joy in the morning.

As an additional plus, we don't have to make that walk by ourselves. And we don't have to watch out for butterflies.