“So I’ve been reading in the book of 2 Kings about Naaman. He was the captain of the army of the king of Syria an honorable man who was well known for his strength and for the many victories he had led in battle. But as we read, we learn that Naaman was a leper. Amen. Many say that leprosy can take years to appear or be recognized sometimes 10 to even 15 years before others can see it.

But there was a young girl who worked in Naaman’s household, and one day she spoke about Elisha, the man of God, saying that he could heal Naaman of his leprosy. So Naaman prepared for the journey. He loaded up silver, gold, and fine clothing to bring as gifts to the prophet Elisha.

When he entered the land of Israel, he went to Elisha’s house and stood at the door. Naaman was expecting something great to happen. He likely thought Elisha would come out personally to greet him, maybe give him a grand welcome or some noble task to complete. But to his surprise, that’s not what happened.

Elisha never came to the door. Instead, he sent a messenger with simple instructions go down to the Jordan River and wash seven times, and you will be clean.

Naaman was furious. He could not believe that the man of God would give him such a task. He didn’t want to go wash in a muddy river. In his mind he was thinking, “Doesn’t he know who I am? I am Naaman, the captain of the king of Syria.” He even said that there were rivers near his home that had much cleaner water, and he wondered why he couldn’t return there and wash instead of going to some dirty river to be made clean.

But one of his servants spoke to him and reasoned with him. Finally, Naaman agreed to go down to the Jordan River and wash seven times. When he did exactly as he was told, the Bible says he was completely clean, and his skin became like the skin of a child. Amen. (2 Kings 5:1–14)

When I think about this story, I also think about us. How much do we miss simply because things don’t happen the way we think they should? Amen. Sometimes it doesn’t meet our expectations how we feel something should look or how we think it should go in our lives. We may think it seems too simple, too strange, or even far-fetched.

We might ask why would the Lord ask us to do that? Why would the Lord ask us to work there? Why would the Lord want us to move there? Why would the Lord want us to be friends with them? The list goes on and on. Amen!

But remember when the Lord took a journey through Samaria, even though it was out of His way, because He had to meet the woman at the well. Amen. He was being obedient to the Father, and because of that obedience, a life was changed. (John 4:1–42)

So if the Lord is speaking something that sounds unusual to your ears, or asking you to do something that doesn’t make sense, just know there is a reason behind it. Amen. So we listen, we follow, and we obey, because God may have something for you to receive or something for you to give to someone else.

Don’t be like Naaman and almost miss a blessing or even a healing just because it didn’t meet your expectations of how it should happen or how it should go.

So let us always remember that God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not like ours. His ways and His thoughts are much higher than ours. (Isaiah 55:8–9)

God sees the big picture. He knows where we need to be and when we need to be there. So don’t miss it because of your thinking, your feelings, or your emotions. Instead, be obedient and say yes to the Lord. Amen.

There is a reason for it all. We may not always understand it, but we must always trust Him and continue to follow and obey. Amen!”

“For it is in His name, Jesus’ name, that I do ask and pray..Amen & Amen..Be blessed today my dear sweet friends and remember wherever you go and whatever you do, Be a light for our Father, Much love to you all, Mandi ❤️