The only survivor of a shipwreck was
washed up on a small, uninhibited
island. He prayed feverishly for God to
rescue him, and every day he
scanned the horizon for help, but none
seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he
eventually managed to build a little hut
out of driftwood to protect him
from the elements, and to store his few
possessions. But then one day,
after scavenging for food, he arrived
home to find his little hut in
flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.
The worst had happened;
everything was lost. He was stunned with
grief and anger. "God, how could you do
this to me!" he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was
awakened by the sound of a ship that
was approaching the island. It had come
to rescue him. "How did you know I was
here?" asked the weary man of his
rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal,"
they replied.
Author Unknown
It is easy to get discouraged when things
are going bad. But we shouldn't
lose heart, because God is at work in our
lives, even in the midst of pain
and suffering. Remember, next time your
little hut is burning to the ground, it just
may be a smoke signal that summons the
grace of God!