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.

 P.S. You
may want to consider passing this on, because you never know who feels as if
their hut is on fire today.