The Story of Naaman

Yesterday, Jesus asked me to speak to a young man who was crying in the booth beside me in a restaurant. I didn’t want to! I wanted to mind my own business and leave him alone. But God said, “Reach out—it sounds crazy, but it will be amazing if you obey.” 

I did what God told me to do, and it WAS amazing! Has God ever asked you to do something that seemed a little off?

One of the most fascinating stories about frustration in the Bible belongs to a man named Naaman, a powerful military commander. He was respected, successful, and influential. The Bible describes him as a great warrior.

But there was one problem.

He had leprosy.

This disease slowly destroyed the body. It was painful, isolating, and ultimately fatal. For all of Naaman’s power and influence, he couldn’t defeat this enemy.

Eventually, he heard about a prophet named Elisha who might be able to help him. So, Naaman gathered gifts, money, and an official letter from his king and traveled to Israel expecting a miracle.

But the miracle didn’t happen the way he expected.

Instead of meeting him personally, Elisha sent a servant with a simple instruction: go wash in the Jordan River seven times.

Naaman was furious.

“But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.’” (2 Kings 5:11, NIV)

Naaman wasn’t just sick—he was frustrated.

He expected something dramatic, impressive, and dignified. Instead, he was asked to do something simple and humbling.

And that’s where many of us struggle. We want God to work on our terms. We want the miracle without the humility. The breakthrough without the obedience. The healing without the surrender.

But God often works through simple obedience.

Naaman almost walked away from his miracle because it didn’t look the way he expected.

Thankfully, his servants challenged him to reconsider. And eventually, Naaman chose to obey. That decision changed everything. Let’s pray:

God, help me trust your instructions even when they don’t match my expectations. When frustration rises because things aren’t happening the way I planned, remind me that your ways are better than mine. Give me a humble heart that is willing to obey you fully. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

You are a miracle!