Shipwreck Prayer Results!


Chapter ONE

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea 
and only two of the men on it were able 
to swim to a small, desert like island.   
The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, 
agree that they had no other recourse 
but to pray to God.   
However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, 
they agreed to divide the territory between them 
and stay on opposite sides of the island. 


The first thing the first man  prayed for was food. 
The next morning, the first man saw 
a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, 
and he was able to eat its fruit.   
 
The other man's parcel of land remained barren. 

After a week, the first man was lonely 
and he decided to pray for a wife.   
The next day, another ship was wrecked, 
and the only survivor was a woman 
who swam to his side of the land.   
 
On the other side of the island, 
there was nothing. 

Soon the first man prayed for a house, 
clothes, more food.   
The next day, like magic, 
all of these were given to him.   
 
However, 
the second man still had nothing.     
Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, 
so that his wife and he could leave the island. 
In the morning, he found a ship docked 
at his side of the island.   
 
The first man boarded the ship with his wife 
and decided to leave the second man on the island.   
He considered the other man unworthy 
to receive God's blessings, 
since none of his prayers had been answered. 

As the ship was about to leave, 
the first man heard a voice from Heaven booming, 

"Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"   
 
"My blessings are mine alone, 
since I was the one who prayed for them," 
the first man answered.   
"His prayers were all unanswered, 
and so he does not deserve anything." 

"You are mistaken!" 
the voice rebuked him.   
"He had only one prayer, 
which I answered.   
If not for that, you would not have 
received any of my blessings." 

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, 
"what did he pray for that I 
should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered." 

For all we know, our blessings are not 
the fruits of our prayers alone, 
but those of another praying for us. 

Chapter TWO

The only survivor of a another shipwreck was washed up on a small, 
uninhabited island. 
He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him.

Everyday 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 this 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.