The situation is out of your control and so you do the only thing you know that you can: you pray. Whenever you pray, though, you tell God exactly how He should answer your prayer. Because, well, we want to be in control and we know what is best for us. Isn’t that a dumb concept? We believe that we know what is best for the situation and so we are going to pray in that regard so that God will answer the way that we see fit. Rather than praying for God to answer the prayer according to His will, we like to throw in some suggestions for what that will should look like.
In 2 Kings 5:1-14, we find King Naaman who was a commander of the army of Aram and was an amazing leader. The king of the country had great admiration for him and through Naaman his country had gained amazing victories. The text goes on to say that Naaman was a mighty warrior, but he suffered from leprosy. Naaman was told by a servant girl that if he would go and visit the prophet of God that he would heal him. Naaman talks to his king and the king gives him a blessing to go and visit the prophet. The king even writes Naaman a letter to give to he prophet and some gifts to take, as well. Naaman gives the letter to the King of Israel and word gets to the prophet Elisha.
“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.’” 2 Kings 5:9-10
Elisha tells Naaman to go and wash himself seven times in the Jordan River. Simple enough, right? But, Naaman gets upset because this was not HIS type of healing.
“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 rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?’ So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.” 2 Kings 5:11-12
Naaman basically threw a hissy fit because the prophet wanted him to go wash in the river instead of healing him like Naaman wanted. Luckily for Naaman, he had some officers with him who encouraged him to follow the prophet’s instructions. Naaman went to the Jordan River and washed seven times and was healed. Isn’t that so crazy? A very debilitating disease had plagued Naaman and because God didn’t speak the way Naaman thought He should, he almost missed a blessing and complete healing.
We do the same thing. Many years ago, I rejoiced with two couples who had been battling infertility. I rejoiced with one couple as they held their biological baby girl in the hospital room. And then I rejoiced with the other couple as they were chosen by a birth mother to have a child through the avenue of adoption. We pray for the answer we want – a child, but God can speak and answer through many avenues. We have to be willing to accept His answer, knowing that God has the full picture in mind and we can’t be too stubborn to accept His blessings.
What are some things that you have been praying for God to answer? Have you been going to Him with an open mind and heart or with a plan for exactly how He should come through for you? Do you react like Naaman and think the plan God is showing you couldn’t be the path to the answer? We must be open to pray for His will and His plan and then be willing to obey as He shows His path.
This blog was written by Amy Carrico: Author of Making the Moments Matter Blog
Last Updated on May 20, 2024
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