Whether or not it can be considered a poem or a biblical allegory, “Footprints in the Sand” has been a source of comfort for Christians for decades. You can find the writing on everything from coffee mugs to refrigerator magnets to t-shirts to bath towels. For followers of Christ, the writing can be a great reminder that God is always with us.
What Is the “Footprints in the Sand” Poem?
The poem envisions God walking along the beach with one of his beloved children:
One night I dreamed a dream. I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord.
When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand. There was only one set of footprints. I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life. This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.
“Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I’m aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don’t understand why, when I need You most, You leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
Do We Know Who Wrote the “Footprints in the Sand” Poem?
Surprisingly, there is much controversy about who wrote the original piece. Though you may have seen the poem labeled “Anonymous,” the writing has been claimed by at least three authors:
- Mary Stevenson in 1936 (her son claims he has a handwritten copy)
- Margaret Fishback Powers in 1964 (cited in several of her published books )
- Carolyn Joyce Carty in 1963 (included in at least two of her books)
Each woman has a registered copyright. According to an article for the Poetry Foundation by Rachel Aviv, registration does not require proof of originality. Stevenson’s son filed a federal lawsuit in 2008 to challenge the other two authors, and an NPR episode features the legal representatives and others debating who makes the best case for having written the poem.
Aviv also contends it’s necessary to work back further in time to find, if not the original author, “one of the earliest articulations of the poem’s premise.”
An 1880 Charles Haddon Spurgeon sermon, “The Education of Sons of God,” references some of the same imagery. We can only guess whether this sermon influenced the three (or more) authors who claim ownership.
What Makes the Versions of “Footprints in the Sand” Different?
While the wording and theme remain largely the same across the three iterations of “Footprints in the Sand,” the earlier Stevenson version has some marked differences.
Though Powers claims that she originated the poem, it could sound to the reader as if she took the Stevenson version and added more emotion. Stevenson’s version reads, “You promised me, Lord If I followed You, You would walk with me always… during the most trying periods… when I needed You most You have not been there for me.”
Compare that to Power’s version. Unlike Stevenson, she talks about seeing the “last scene of my life shot before me,” at which time she looked back and saw only one set of footprints at her “lowest and saddest times.” She talks about the promise God made to her as one of walking “and talking” with her all the way. She strongly states that “... when I need you most you leave me”, which takes a more active tone than Stevenson’s “You have not been there for me.”
Unlike the Stevenson version, the ending shows God demonstrating more care and concern, as He says, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
Given the choice, the Powers version offers greater hope and comfort.
Why Is “Footprints in the Sand” Popular Among Christians?
While the character in the poem enjoys fellowship with God, they are devastated to think that God flees in a crisis and leaves “only one set of footprints.” Nothing could terrify a believer more than the prospect of being alone in the inevitable times of suffering. Suffering is a part of life in a fallen world. God knows that when His children suffer, they want to be reminded of certain powerful truths:
- God is near
- God sees and knows the situation
- God loves His children
- God is in control
- God has a plan and purpose for suffering
“Footprints in the Sand” speaks to all of this and more.
Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Luke 12:7 tells us that God knows us so intimately that the “very hairs of our head are numbered.” We are assured of God’s love by Jesus’ sacrifice in laying down His life for us John 10:11. God’s sovereignty and control are evident in the life of Job, who, despite his suffering, was under the loving, watchful eye of his Lord. Romans 8:28, likely one of the Bible’s best-known verses, tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
When Did “Footprints in the Sand” Become Popular Among Christians?
Depending on who the true author of the poem is would help determine when the poem became better known by the masses.
It appears to have become popular in the late 1970s. Between 1979 and 1980 alone, celebrities such as Jerry Falwell, Erma Bombeck, Ann Landers, and Ronald Reagan wrote or spoke about the poem. For instance, Reagan used it in his speech at the National Affairs Campaign on Religious Liberty in 1980. In his book Jerry Falwell: Aflame for God, Falwell adapted the poem as an illustration. As Aviv notes, “Footprints in the Sand” noticed a big increase in popularity once the Internet allowed for sharing poems and graphics.
Do Any Christian Songs Reference “Footprints in the Sand”?
Generally, we think of Christian songs as those written about God or the Christian life. The intention is worship and adoration of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
If the original version of “Footprints in the Sand” were set to music, would it be considered worship because it references God? Is worship implied even though it sounds more like a psalm of lament?
In 2007, popular mainstream artist Leona Lewis recorded a song of the same title, addressing many of the same ideas without reference to God. Her song seems to relate more to friendship.
Whether or not Lewis is a Christian, she mentioned in an interview that she was aware of the poem: “It’s about standing by someone and being there for people who need your help.” You can read the lyrics and see if you get the sense that you could sing the song about God.
Regardless of the authorship of “Footprints in the Sand,” whether it leads us to worship or to ponder, we can all find comfort in the truth that it espouses: God will never leave or forsake His children, whether in good times or bad.
Further Reading:
4 Christian Poems to Inspire Believers
What Should Christians Know about T.S. Eliot?
7 Christian Women Poets You Need to Know About
What Can Christians Learn From John Donne?
10 Easter Poems for Church and Celebration Readings
Photo Credit: Getty Images/FilmColoratStudio
Mary Oelerich-Meyer is a Chicago-area freelance writer and copy editor who prayed for years for a way to write about and for the Lord. She spent 20 years writing for area healthcare organizations, interviewing doctors and clinical professionals and writing more than 1,500 articles in addition to marketing collateral materials. Important work, but not what she felt called to do. She is grateful for any opportunity to share the Lord in her writing and editing, believing that life is too short to write about anything else. Previously she served as Marketing Communications Director for a large healthcare system. She holds a B.A. in International Business and Marketing from Cornell College (the original Cornell!) When not researching or writing, she loves to spend time with her writer daughter, granddaughter, rescue doggie and husband (not always in that order).
