A Smoke Signal

Here I am again: struggling. For the record, I hate being here :( I often wonder if I will ever reach a point in my life when I won't struggle, and when it will just come naturally to trust God regardless of what is going on around me. It is certainly a goal...a constant striving to conform more and more to the image of Christ. And yet, today, I struggle. Blah.

 

I know God has a plan. I know His timing is perfect. I know He has not forgotten me, and that He is working even now to draw me closer to Him. I know a lot of things. So why do I still struggle so much? Because I am a hopeless mess, that's why. Haha. It's a process- don't judge. Some of us are slower learners than others...

 

A friend sent me this email today, and because I am such a mess, I actually burst into tears after reading it- lol. How lame is that? But it really hit me right where I am, and it was something I really needed to hear. Whatever you are struggling with or going through, I hope this encourages you that way it encouraged me- even if it means a cry session. Haha. But I pray your cry session turns into cries to the Holy and Gracious God who loves you and cares about you more than you can ever know.

 

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. 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. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?' Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship 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.

 

The Moral of This Story: It's 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 our pain and suffering. 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.