A Muddy Creek...

Pride, more than anything else, keeps us from God. The very thing that God gives us (freewill - the freedom to choose) is the very thing when exercised in a selfish manner, turns us away from what is best for us; away from the Giver. Naaman was a prideful man. When Elisha didn’t greet him at his doorstep, Naaman was furious, for he had come a long way and the situation was not unfolding as he had planned. The Jordan River failed in comparison to the rivers or Aram. It was like a muddy creek compared with Caribbean blue waters. Naaman’s pride wouldn’t allow him to stoop to the degradation of dipping himself in a muddy, insignificant river. He had brought silver and gold, so he expected a grand, showmanship type of ceremonial healing. When have you ever behaved like this? I know I have. When you’ve been wanting something for so long, you tend to build up the expectation of it into a grandeur that rivals a Hollywood movie. Then when it doesn’t turn out the way you pictured it in your mind, your pride kicks in and lets loose on those around you. Your disappointment, drives the humility out, and welcomes in the arrogant, “I’ll play God” role, which keeps you from appreciating and enjoying the event. Here’s my advice: ask God to help you manage your expectations. Ask Him to help you appreciate all that He’s done in your life. Ask Him to help you put things into the right perspective, and keep Him the focal point of your life. That way, when things don’t turn out the way you envision them, you can know the Creator of the universe is still behind it, and you’ll still get what you need. It just may not be the way you expect it, rather a muddy river that you have to dip seven times in. When God and His sovereignty is the focus of your life, everything fails in comparison to what He’s already done for us. And the gift of eternal life awaits those who take Him at His Word. Remember, we are not Home yet....

9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 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.”11 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! 12 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.13 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!’ ” 14 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’s, and he was healed!15 Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” 2 Kings 5:9-15