When Your Hut's On Fire

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhibited 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 from driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions.

One day, after searching for food during a tropical thunderstorm, he arrived back 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?" He drifted off into a restless sleep.

As dawn broke, he awakened to the sight 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 the 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 may just be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.

I read this on various other blogs (with no original author's name) and as I always like to credit someone I will just have to add a general 'thank you'.