God and Smoke :

A man who was the lone survivor of a terrible shipwreck was washed ashore on a tiny uninhabited island. Marooned and alone, the man cried out to God to rescue him from his terrible fate. Unfamiliar with survival tactics, the man struggled to endure.

Eventually, he was able to construct a hut to protect him and his few possessions. Every day the man faithfully scanned the horizon for the answer to his prayer. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home and found his little hut burning to the ground. There was nothing left but ashes and smoke. “God, how could you do this to me!!” He cried. Broken and despaired he sobbed himself to sleep.

The next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship. It had come to rescue him. He asked the sailor, “How did you know I was here?” “As we were heading East, we saw your smoke signal,” the sailor replied.

Lesson : God is working in our lives, even in the midst of our pains and sufferings. We easily get discouraged when things are going bad. But take heart and remember…next time your little hut is burning to the ground. It’s just a smoke signal that attracts God’s blessings.