Hoping in the Lord, Trusting in His Word

Rosemary Bogdan contemplates the various ways Jesus chooses to heal and how we must trustfully surrender to Him in faith. 

How often we ask the Lord for healing. Lately I have asked Him quite a bit as various health problems persist, and pain often keeps me awake at night. 

Today’s first reading about the healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-15ab) gives us a vivid reminder that God chooses how He will heal. That is not our call. 

A Little Girl's Prophecy

A little girl who was the servant of Naaman’s wife knew about the prophet Elisha “If only my master would present himself to the prophet in Samaria,” she said to her mistress, “he would cure him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:3) A little girl! And she did not say “He might.” She said that he would. I wish we knew more about that little girl! Her words sound like a Word of Knowledge or a Prophecy. Were it not for her faith, Naaman might not have been healed. 

The king of Israel tears his garments and cynically asks how he could cure someone of leprosy. He even suspects ulterior motives. 

Elisha’s Response 

Elisha’s response sounds calm and confident. He asks why the king would tear his garments and invites him to come and find out “that there is a prophet in Israel” (2 Kings 5:8). Elisha knows he is a prophet and as such surely knows that God intends to heal Naaman. 

Naaman came with his chariots and horses, clearly a man of means and importance. But when Elisha says go wash in the Jordan seven times Naaman is indignant. He responds with sarcasm and leaves. He leaves! That was not how he expected to be healed!! But his servants convince him to do it anyway. How often have we left and thus missed what God was trying to do. 

Trusting in God, Naaman Obeys 

Despite his initial surly response, Naaman does what he was told to do. I can imagine that his faith was growing with each plunge into the Jordan. Perhaps he started feeling the healing with each successive dip. “His flesh became like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” (2 Kings 5:14) What a beautiful image is evoked of the fresh innocent beauty of children’s skin. 

God Heals as He Chooses 

Sometimes God will heal us physically, exactly as we ask. But more often it is different. Sometimes it is even in ways that were not at all as we were thinking. And many times, God will heal at the request of someone else. Surely Naaman and his loved ones had prayed for his healing. But it was only when Elisha asks, and with some odd instructions, that God’s power comes forth. Faith requires that we trust in God and swallow our pride. It is not up to us to decide how God should act. Miracles could be missed if we walk away. 

Finally, Naaman acknowledges what has happened and humbled, returns to Elisha. “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:15) 

Naaman Is Changed

What a man of faith we can imagine that Naaman would have been after that healing. Surely, he was a changed man and that action in his soul is no doubt what God intended as well. 

From today’s psalm response: “I hope in the LORD, I trust in his word; with him there is kindness and plenteous redemption” (Psalm 130:5,7).

Pray With Me

Oh Lord, please heal us in all the ways we need healing. All glory and honor are Yours. 

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Copyright 2025 Rosemary Bogdan
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