Smoke Signals

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:28

We know that for those who love God, all things work together for good…

Today’s Scripture verse is like a coin with its face almost completely worn off because it has been held in the grip of millions of believers throughout the ages. For good reason, this is a beloved promise.

This verse reminds us that, while not everything is good in and of itself and considered only in isolation, God in mercy will use everything that comes to us in life to accomplish His good purpose in, for, and through us.

Some things may seem far from good while we are experiencing them. I am reminded of a story I heard about a man who was shipwrecked on a deserted island. He prayed fervently for God to send someone to rescue him. The days stretched into weeks and no one came to save him.

To survive, he built a small hut out of the tree branches, driftwood, and palm leaves he was able to gather. His hut provided him some protection from the elements, a place to sleep and store whatever food he was able to scavenge from the land.

One day, while out gathering some fruits, he looked back toward his hut to see smoke rising. The fire he had kindled for cooking near the hut had sent a spark into his hut and it had caught fire. He ran back, but by the time he had gotten there, his little shelter had burned to the ground.

He sat down on sandy ground, buried his head in his hands, and wept in desperation. Overcome with grief and sorrow, he prayed, “God, how could you let this happen? After all, I have been through, and with all of my suffering, why this?”

Exhausted and weary, the man eventually fell asleep near the smoldering ashes of what was his shelter. The next morning he looked down the beach and toward the ocean and saw a ship approaching. It eventually lowered a small boat that some men rowed to shore.

When the sailors came ashore, he ran to meet them and asked, “How did you know I was here?”

The men answered, “We saw your smoke signal yesterday evening.”

It is easy to get discouraged when life is going badly. Don’t lose heart. God is working even when everything seems to be going up in smoke.