God’s Way

I thought I had it all figured out in my twenties. I would be a full time missionary in Africa, care for babies with AIDS in the hospital, and see hundreds of lives change for God’s glory. At least that was MY dream. I prayed fervently for this dream to come to fruition; I was truly convinced it would. Instead, I met my husband, raised two children, and now serve in the public school and support my husband as he serves at The 180 Center, a discipleship mission for men who are desperate for help. My lifelong dream to be a missionary in Africa never came to pass, but I’ve served in the mission fields God has chosen for me and I’m grateful.

There are times we believe OUR ways to be God’s ways because…well, they just seem so good to us!  Our own desires and ambitions are quickly justified in our minds when we declare God’s stamp of approval. Since my dream to go to Africa to help babies was righteous and altruistic, it seemed to be  God-breathed. It was the perfect picture of what I expected my missionary service to look like, but God had a different plan for my life!

In the book of Kings in the Old Testament, Naaman, the Syrian commander, had a problem. He had leprosy and needed to be healed. He heard that a prophet in Israel could heal him, so he wrote a letter to the King of Israel and requested help. When Elisha the prophet heard what happened, he told Naaman to come to him. There was only one problem. Naaman’s expectations for HOW he would be healed were very different than God’s prophetic prescription for healing!

“So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house.  But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: ‘Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.’ But Naaman became angry and stalked away. ‘I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!’ he said. ‘I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me!  Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?’ So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.” 2 Kings 5:9-12

Why did Naaman turn and walk away angry? His expectations for healing were different than Elisha’s directives, and he was furious. One reason for his disdain was that God’s plan didn’t make sense to the Syrian commander. Why should he be healed in the Jordan River in Israel when the rivers of his homeland were so much better? And why seven times? Another reason he rejected Elisha’s instructions was because he was not truly humble. Naaman was used to doing things Naaman’s way! Despite his anger, this stubborn Syrian commander made a wise decision. He listened to wise counsel.

“But his officers tried to reason with him and said, ‘Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’’ So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!” 2 Kings 5:13,14

A leprous commander of the Syrian army had a change of heart and received healing. His heart did a u-turn when he received wise, godly counsel. He humbled himself, surrendered his expectations, and received God’s prescription for his healing. In Isaiah 55:8, God declares that our ways are not His ways. We need to surrender our expectations, humble ourselves, and receive God’s prescription for our lives! Are you willing to surrender your expectations in exchange for God’s way?