The story is told of a sole survivor of a shipwreck who washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed earnestly for God to rescue him, but no rescurers came. Every day he scanned horizon for help, to no avail. Tried and discouraged, he finally decided to build a little hut out of what little driftwood he could find. This hut offered him some protection from the elements, and gave him a place to store the few possessions he had managed to collect.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived back at his camp only to find his little hut in flames. Smoke was billowing up into the sky, everything was lost. With this insult added to injury, his anger got the best of him. Stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?" He made his bed that night on the ashes of the hut, confused, discouraged and feeling totallyabandoned and alone. What would the next day bring?
Early the next day, he was startled awake by the sound of a ship's horn. The boat was approaching his little, desolate 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.
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. Always remember, in those times when you can't trace His hand, you can always trust His heart
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