I once read of a lone survivor of a shipwreck who was stranded on a deserted island. He prayed desperately to God with hope for rescue, waited, and watched, but no help appeared in sight.  He finally struggled to build a small hut of driftwood as protection for himself and his meager belongings.

One day after a search for food he discovered his hut was on fire and its smoke billowing skyward. Now hopelessness overcame him.

“God, how could you let this happen me?” he cried and collapsed in deep dispair.

However with the dawn of a new day he saw a ship headed toward the island to rescue him.

When he asked, “How did you know I was here?”

He received this answer: “We saw your smoke signal!”

It is understandable to consider giving up when circumstances seem hopeless, but we mustn’t dispair, because God is still working in all things — even during the darkest times. We must have hope and remember that when our huts are burning down it may produce the smoke signals that bring God’s grace to our rescue.

(Based on MY SAVIOR’S LOVE by Charles Gabriel, Tyndall House Publishers, IL)