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.
Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!”
2 Kings 5:11-13 (NIV)
Lord, this morning my conscious is pricked. How much am I like Naaman, expecting You to show up one way and getting mad when You don’t? Expecting You to meet my needs one way and yet You silently, behind the scenes, with no fanfare and no trumpet announcements, take care of what has been weighing on me? And because it didn’t happen the way I expected I either get mad, downplay it, or disregard and miss it altogether!
I thank You this morning for the people You send into my life who love me enough to reason with me and tell me when I am acting silly. I thank You for their gentle approach with me, speaking in a language that cuts past my bias, showing me the folly of my thinking. Through them You remind me that You are sovereign. You answer prayers and needs as You see fit. And You remind me how stupid I can be, putting a stop to my believing that You must do things my way. You said it Yourself: My thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways (Isaiah 55:8). Sometimes I need to be reminded.
I pray today for a heart that just trusts. I want one that does not believe I need to dictate “how” You supply my needs, answer my prayers, or make a way. Instead I want one that just steps out by faith, doing what You tell me to do and waiting with expectation. Mary did not know what You would do when she brought the issue of the party running out of wine. She just expected You to do something. I want to be like that today and everyday.
Help me to be like a little child when it comes to trusting You. No expectations apart from knowing You will satisfy my request and amazement in the process. Tell me what to do and I will do it because I want to see Your glory. Amen.