The only
survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited
island.
He prayed
feverishly for God to rescue him. Everyday 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.
You may want to consider passing this on, because you never
know who feels as if their hut is on fire today.