Taste and See

So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” 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. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage. (2 Kings 5:9-12 NIV)

Naaman was a very rich and powerful man. He agreed to go to Elisha because he had no other option.  He had leprosy and there was no cure for the disease. The problem was that Naaman had the plan laid out in his head. He knew how he wanted to be healed.  When Elisha did what God wanted and not what Naaman wanted, Naaman became angry. How often do we do this?  I know I do it. I have a plan. I want things to work out according to my plan and when they don’t, I become difficult. That reminds me of the Snickers commercial but instead of eating a candy bar someone should say “Have a taste of God’s plan.” There is only one way around this habit and that is to remember that God’s plan is always so much better than ours. And, it’s a lot more exciting. Naaman eventually listened to the advice of his servants and washed in the Jordan. He was healed. Today, when you become difficult because it’s not working out the way you think it should, keep reminding yourself that God’s plan is always better than yours. There are amazing things in store when we follow His leading.

–Elaine Kapetanakis