When Naaman came to Elisha for healing of his leprosy he came expecting it to happen in a flourish with flash and fanfare by the prophet’s loud proclamation and waving of his hand. 

But Elisha sent his servant out to him with a simple message — “go and wash in the Jordan seven times…and you will be clean.”

He started to go away. He nearly missed the healing that God had for him because it wasn’t the way he expected. He expected instant results and he almost didn’t obey. 

BUT the Bible says he did end up being healed. He let go of his preconceived notions and obeyed. He walked out the instructions for the rinse-and-repeat process the prophet had given him. He went and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times. Seven times. Not once. Seven. 

How often are we like Naaman, expecting God to do something one way and fail to see His hand when He presents us with a process and steps of obedience? Naaman was healed of a physical problem. But I find his story applicable to our emotional problems also. 

The wounds of life may have afflicted you in multiplying layers over the course of years. Healing from this is not a once-at-the-altar situation. Just like Namaan’s healing, it is a rinse-and-repeat process.  So don’t be discouraged if — when you are washed by the Lord Jesus (the Living Water) — you find yourself not yet completely whole. Look back at the progress and submit to His process. Each washing brings another layer of newness, another layer of wholeness. 

Keep walking out your sanctification. Immerse yourself in the Lord Jesus – again…and again. In His word. In worship. In surrender to the things He shows you. At each encounter with Him, let Him bind up another wound; let Him heal another layer of the past. And be encouraged friend — every time you say yes to Him, you’re that much healthier, that much closer to wholeness, until eventually, one day, just like Naaman, you will find yourself restored to health. 

“The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

He gathers the outcasts of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted 

And binds up their wounds.”

– Psalm 147:2-3

(You can read about Naaman in 2 Kings 5)