The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited
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.

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.

Author Unknown