Will You Be Healed?
"But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, 'Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.' So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, 'Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.' But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, 'I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?' He turned and went away in a rage." - 2 Kings 5:8-12
Henri Nouwen called Jesus the wounded healer. I’ve understood this phrase to mean that our wounds and our faith coexist within us in a way that makes us better ministers to one another.
Naaman has enough faith to get him to the door of the prophet’s house. But Elisha’s bedside manner (or lack thereof) and prescription don’t meet Naaman’s standard of care. Should this mighty hero now immerse himself in the filthy Jordan River for healing? After making the journey to see God’s prophet, will his pride ultimately prevent him from gaining what he earnestly desires?
I don’t know what your leprosy looks like, but I have little doubt that something in you is wounded. I don’t know what your faith looks like, but I have little doubt that something in you is believing. What stands in the way of your path to healing and wholeness? Are you willing to give it to the Lord and be healed forever?!