I am in a position of waiting on Jesus for my transitions: in my ministerial life, my personal life and my business life. This process of “The Wait” can often lead to us coming up with scenarios of just how Jesus Christ is going to bring His next phase of divine appointments and spiritual growth into our lives and ministries. We can get so engrossed in these fantasies of how He’s going to do it. But we must be careful, as we may miss the actual way Jesus chooses to bring His promises to bear in our lives. So today I want to warn us all: Don’t try to craft the process! The process and the product are in Jesus’ hands alone!
Stop Trying to Figure It Out!
The context scripture is from 2 Kings 5:1-14. It’s the story of the Syrian war general Naaman, who was healed by God of his leprosy, through the prophet Elisha. The focus is usually on the end result that Naaman was healed. However this Word of God is truly alive and dynamic. When I read this scripture, this well-known story, I saw something new.
I’m a creative soul. I think up scenarios to scenarios, plots within plots. Oftentimes I find myself in this state of imagining how Jesus was going to manifest His promises for my life. I imagine my reactions, what I would say, what they would say, etc., that it often makes me weary. Next impatience begins to set up shop in my heart. Then I get angry that things aren’t working according to the intricate plot lines that I have all laid out in my mind!
Dissecting Naaman’s Healing
Now let’s look at a section of this main scripture in 2 Kings 5:
Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.”But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’
Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”
So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
2 Kings 5: 9-14, NKJV.
Naaman’s Expectations
You see, Naaman also had an expectation, a fantasy about how he would be healed. He imagined something grand to usher in his healing. So when Elisha told him to something seemingly mundane and disparaging- go and wash in the Jordan seven times- he got mad! How dare the prophet of God not comply and fulfill his mental fantasy! But we are grateful for Naaman’s servants. They were the ones who calmed him down and logically showed him that it was simply a matter of being obedient. Otherwise, Naaman would have returned to Syria a leper. However we praise God! Naaman obeyed and he was completely healed! Hallelujah!
Ditch the Fantasies: Let Jesus Surprise You!
We can also resemble Naaman: focused on the details of the process, focused on how we want God to bless and promote us. But this is how the enemy shifts our attention from Jesus Christ to the process. This focus on the process is not faith; it is a constant undermining of, and eventual negation of our faith in Jesus Christ!1 You see, faith in Jesus Christ means that we focus on Jesus Christ alone. We must be confident that He has the superior and complete management of every process and the subsequent product in each of our lives.
So ditch the fantasies of how you think Jesus is going to manifest the specific plans that He has for your life. Give up control. Trust Jesus: He’s got this! Relax and rest in God’s plans. Be patient. Exercise temperance in the wait. Be led by His Holy Spirit at every step.
Absolute faith in Jesus Christ is essential. If we say that we are children of God, then we must surrender every area of our lives to Him for His best management. Complete and reckless faith is a requirement for us to please Christ. Focus on Jesus Christ alone. Don’t try to craft your process! Leave the process and the product in the hands of Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate and best manufacturer. Sit back and let Daddy Jesus surprise you. He’s the God of Exceeding Abundantly!
Blessings, peace and wisdom upon you,
Sophia.