The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited
island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. 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. One day, after
scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames,
with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and
everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He
cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?" Early the next day, he
was awakened by the sound of a ship 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.
The Moral of This Story: It's 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 our pain and suffering. Remember that the
next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just
may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God