There was a devotee who had immense faith in God. With great love and devotion, he used to serve God every day.
One day he said to God, “I worship you so much, but I have never truly felt your presence. I don’t ask for your vision but at least give me some experience that assures me you are with me.”
God replied, “Alright. Every morning when you go for a walk along the seashore, you will see not just two, but four footprints in the sand. Two will be yours, and the other two will be mine. This is how you will feel my presence.”
The next day, the man went for his walk. As he walked on the sand, he saw four footprints – his and God’s. He felt overjoyed.
From then on, he saw the same every day.
But one day, he suffered a great loss in business and lost everything. He ended up on the streets, and even his own people abandoned him.
When he went for his walk again, he noticed only two footprints in the sand instead of four.
He was surprised and hurt, thinking, “Even God left me in my bad times?”
Gradually, things started to get better. People began returning to him.
One day, during his walk, he saw the four footprints again.
He could no longer hold it in. He asked God, “God, during my hardest times, everyone left me. I didn’t mind that because that’s how the world is. But you too left me then? Why?”
God replied, “How could you ever think I would leave you? Those two footprints you saw during your worst time were not yours – they were mine.
During that period, I carried you in my arms and now that your difficult time is over, I have set you down, which is why you see four footprints again.”
Learning:
Whenever you go to work, remember God.
Whenever you are in trouble, call upon God.
Your suffering comes from your past karma.
Once the consequences of your actions are over, your pain will end.
This story does stir a few deep questions – both spiritual and personal:
How we perceive divine presence: Do we only feel close to God or a higher power when things are going well? And when we are suffering, do we assume we have been abandoned – when perhaps we are being carried?
Nature of faith: Is faith truly strong if it wavers the moment, we face hardship? Or is that moment actually when faith becomes real and tested?
Karma and responsibility: The story implies our suffering stems from past actions. That raises a bigger question – how much of what we face is destined, and how much can we change?
Blame and gratitude: Why are we quick to blame God in pain, but slow to credit Him in peace?
It’s a simple story, but it quietly challenges the reader to confront how they see God – not in miracles or visions, but in endurance, recovery, and unseen grace.
What about you – did any part of the story make you pause or reconsider something?
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