When You Can’t See the Footprints
“Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen.” Psalm 77: 19 (NIV)
The author of this Psalm (Asaph) was recounting the faithfulness of God to the Israelites. In this verse, he was referring to the miracle God performed in parting the Red Sea. The Israelites had seen the miracle God did for them, the way out of Egypt that He paved for them, but there was still a step of obedience that God left up to them. Stepping onto the path where they could see no other footprints, not even God’s.Just as God parted AN ENTIRE SEA to give them dry ground to walk on, He paved a road through the sea, but the Israelites still had to walk it out. Oh sure, God could have swept the Israelites up in a cloud and delivered them to the other side and spared them the walking through on dry ground, but He didn’t. He expected them to WALK THE PATHWAY He had paved for them.
And God still does the same thing with us today.
God still performs miracles. He still parts the waters of the Red Seas of this life, but He also expects us to have the faith and fortitude to take our own steps of obedience to WALK THE PATHWAY that He has provided for us! The Israelites weren’t fearful of a path that showed no other footprints and we are not to be either. Even if we cannot see the footprints of God, we are to take a step of faith AND WALK.There will be times in our lives where God asks us to walk where there are no footprints: to start a business, to create a reality from an idea, to plant a church, to lead a bible study, to be a witness in your workplace, to walk into an unfamiliar season, to break the dysfunctional cycle that has been in your family for generations. A PLACE WHERE YOU SEE NO OTHER FOOTPRINTS.
Do we have the courage, the faith, the strength to walk that pathway?
Just because the Israelites didn’t see the footprints of God, it certainly didn’t mean that He had not gone before them and prepared the pathway for them to walk upon. Because He had and He knew what was waiting for them on the other side of the Red Sea. God is the Good Shepherd, who leads and guides us (Psalm 23), who goes before us on the pathway to pave a road for us to walk. We sometimes don’t see His footprints, but it doesn’t mean that He’s not there… because He is. He’s just giving us the opportunity to rise to a greater level of faith and WALK.
God will never lead you to a place where He hasn’t first gone Himself.
He’s a GOOD Shepherd and good shepherds go before their flock to make sure the path is cleared and safe for travel. Then they watch their flock walk the path that the shepherd has created, knowing that the path leads them to good, safe places of abundance and blessing. God does the same for us.There’s a pathway that He’s already traveled. Where goodness and mercy follow us as we walk that road. Where blessing and abundant life awaits us. But He will not walk the road for you. YOU HAVE TO WALK THE ROAD YOURSELF.God still performs miracles to get you on that pathway, but you have to walk it out. Even if there are no other footprints. Don’t be discouraged if you cannot see the footprints…not even His. He’s already on the road, paving the way for you.
Step out. Start walking. Keep your eyes on God and watch the miracles that He will perform on your behalf!
And just maybe, YOUR footprints on that pathway will give those behind you the courage they need to walk the same path.