June 25

2 Kings 5:9-14

The unbelieving commander

Naaman went with his horses and chariots to the house where Elisha the prophet was staying. When he arrived, Elisha told his servant to give Naaman this message: “Go to the Jordan River and wash yourself seven times, and you will be cured.”

Naaman was upset because Elisha had not even come out to speak to him and heal him right there on the spot. Then Naaman added, “Besides, aren’t the rivers back home good enough? I could have washed in them and been cured.”

But Naaman’s servants said, “Sir, surely if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Why don’t you just go down to the river and do what the prophet told you?”

So Naaman went down to the Jordan River, and when he dipped in it seven times, he was completely cured. His skin became like that of a young boy.

How can I overcome my doubt?

From birth, children trust their parents completely, and as they get older, they slowly learn to trust others around them. But because we are human, we sometimes forget or cannot do what we have promised. As you have probably discovered, sooner or later someone will let you down.

Because we sometimes think of God in human terms, we may wonder if He will also let us down—especially if He has not answered our prayers in the way we expected. But we should keep trusting God and know that He will never let us down and that He answers our prayers in the very best way. Naaman expected to be healed in a certain way, but when things worked out differently, he almost gave up. If he had gone home right then, he would have missed out on God’s answer.

One way you can grow in your faith and learn to trust God more is by reading the Bible. As we read about His faithfulness over thousands of years, we are encouraged to trust Him completely. Remember, God has not changed, and He never will. He is able to do far more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Verse for today

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17