But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”
But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.
But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!
— 2 Kings 5:10–13 NLT
Have there been opportunities you missed because they were not what you thought they were supposed to be? I’m great at talking myself out of God’s blessings. I’m a lot like Naaman in that way. If I’m praying for something and it does not work out the way that I think it should, I’m likely to miss it.
One of the things I took away from Casey’s sermon this week is the undeniable truth that God gave everything to bless us. He is constantly showing us the ways that we can be blessed. He brings them into our lives every day! The truth is that we are not always in the right frame of mind to receive them or even notice them.
I think that all of us, especially now, can miss out on what God is doing. Maybe we are too focused on our problems, or our own feelings, or too caught up in the news. It’s strange to think that even now, when we have cut so much from our lives, there are still so many things distracting us from God.
Did you notice how Naaman overcame his doubt? He had people around him that saw what the prophet had asked and convinced him that he should try it. They were there for him. I don’t think we should miss that point.
Sometimes we need help to see what God is doing in our lives. That’s what’s so great about having godly friends. They help us see the things we miss. They tell us the truth and help us to seek the will of God. The result is that we get to live in his blessing.
During this time it is so important that you do whatever it takes to reach out to your friends. To encourage them, and let them encourage you. You are not alone. Together we can help each other see God working.