Is Your Hut Burning?
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.
For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has
a
positive
answer for it.