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 drift wood to protect himself 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. The worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. "God, how could you do this to me?" he cried.

Early the next day 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?" the weary man asked of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It's often easy for us to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is always at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain, and suffering.

Do your best to 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.