God’s Salvation Is Behind Misfortunes

I once came across a story: The solo survivor of a shipwreck, after drifting at sea, washed up on a remote, uninhabited island. He prayed to God every day, asking God to save him and bring him home. But no boat passed by. He then built a little cabin on this island. But one day, he came back from fishing and saw the cabin on fire. He was so sad and didn’t understand why God treated him like this. Surprisingly, the next morning, a ship approached the island, and the crew told the man they were led there by the smoke.

So sometimes, when we encounter difficulties, misfortunes, or are stripped of something, it is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just like the survivor on the island. Although his cabin was burned by fire, this made the crew see the smoke, which guided them to the desert island and get the man out of there. All things are under God’s command, and there is God’s love in the hardships, refinements, frustrations and failures we encounter. When we don’t understand God’s purpose and work, we are inclined to misunderstand and complain against God. However, God is merciful toward our weakness. Even if we are pessimistic and lose hope in adversity, God still has always protected and cared for us, rescued us time and time again.

It is said in Psalms, “Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for them that fear you; which you have worked for them that trust in you before the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret of your presence from the pride of man: you shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Blessed be the LORD: for he has showed me his marvelous kindness in a strong city” (Psalm 31:19–21). God’s deeds are wondrous and unfathomable. The heaven, the earth and all things that God created are for the sake of us humans. Everything God has done is for us to live better. God presides over and guides our lives and fates. Everyone is living out his life peacefully under God’s care and protection.

Perhaps you are at your lowest or going through a hard situation. But please don’t lose hope. As long as we have faith to rely on God, and firmly believe that God is keeping watch by our side, maybe one day soon we will discover that the misfortunes are exactly God’s protection and salvation for us. It is precisely that God is reaching out His saving hand.