Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For
much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently,
rarely varying the pace.
But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops,
turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.
For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your
footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His
consistently.
You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints
that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His
steps.
Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are
becoming one.
This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The
footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.
Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints
they have become one. This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the
second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags
all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable
mess of prints.
You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends. Now you pray: "Lord, I
understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian;
I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me
learn to walk with You." "That is correct."
"And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually
learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely."
"Very good.. You have understood everything so far."
When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was
becoming like You in every way."
"Precisely."
"So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated,
and this time it was worse than at first."
There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice.
"You didn't know? It was then that we danced!"
