The sole survivor of a shipwreck washed ashore on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for rescue, scanning the horizon daily, but to no avail.
Exhausted, he built a small hut from driftwood for shelter and to store his meager possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he returned to find his hut engulfed in flames, smoke billowing into the sky. Everything was lost.
Stunned by grief and anger, he cried out, "God, how could you do this to me!"
Early the next morning, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island. It had come to save him. "How did you know I was here?" the weary man asked his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
It's easy to lose heart when things go wrong. But we must not despair, for even in our pain and suffering, a greater plan may be at work. Remember, when your "hut" burns down, it might just be a smoke signal summoning grace.
For every negative thought we harbor, there can be a positive answer.