Genesis 48:1-22
Reference: v.15 Then he (Jacob) blessed Joseph and said, "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day… (NIV Bible)
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”
Mary Stevenson, 1936
Application: Jacob had not had an easy life. It was not all smooth sailing and suffered greed, manipulation, grief, deception, lose, famine and the list could go on. Yet at the end of his life he looks back to see that God has been his shepherd, with him and guiding him, all throughout his life.
Often we go through difficult and hard situations and don't have a sense of God being present. However, when we look back through the hard times we can often see God's hand at work. We may not realise it in the moment, but looking back we can see where God has guided and how He has helped us overcome.
Prayer: Lord, so often we desire instant results, but You know that the journey is all part of our faith experience. Help us to always search for You, in the good times and the bad. Amen.
When have you felt God carry you through a difficult situation?