The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

在一场船难中，唯一的生存者随着潮水漂流到一座无人岛上。他天天虔诚地祈祷神明，希望能够早日回到家乡。他每天注视着海平线希望寻求帮助，但见到的却总是一片汪洋，除此之外什么也没有。

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

后来，他决定用那块带他到小岛的木头造一个简陋的小木屋，以在这险恶的环境中自保，并且用以保存他仅剩的一点东西。

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.

然而有一天，他外出觅食物回来，准备回小屋时，发现小屋竟陷在熊熊烈火之中， 浓烟不断向天上窜。

The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God how could you do this to me!" he cried.

最悲惨的是：他一切的东西，在这一瞬间通通化为乌有。悲痛的他气愤地对天吶喊着：老天！你怎么可以这样对我！顿时，眼泪从眼角中流出。

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

第二天一早，他被一艘正靠近小岛的船只的鸣笛声吵醒。是的，有人来救他了。

"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

上船后，他问那些船员：

「你怎么知道我在这里？」

「因为我们看到了信号般的浓烟。」

他们回答说。

It is 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 pain and suffering.

人在碰到困难时，很容易沮丧。不过无论如何，都不用因此丧失信心，因为老天自有安排，即时遭遇悲伤疼痛，神明也没有将我们抛弃。

Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. 

记住：当下一次你的小木屋着火时，那可能只是神明美妙的恩典。

For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it.

所有我们认为负面的事情，往后看吧，上天自由安排。