2 Kings 5:14-15 – When Simple Faith Heals

Naaman wanted something dramatic. He expected the prophet Elisha to come out, wave his hands, and call down fire from heaven. Instead? He was told to dip in the Jordan River seven times. No theatrics. No ceremony. Just simple obedience. And when he finally humbled himself and did it? His skin was restored, and he was healed.

Devotional

Restoration doesn’t always look the way we want it to. And if we’re honest, that can be frustrating. We like quick fixes. We like tidy solutions and neat little bow-wrapped endings. But life — and God — don’t always work like that. Just ask Naaman. He was a powerful man, used to people jumping when he spoke, used to getting things done his way. So when the prophet Elisha told him to go wash in the Jordan River seven times to be healed of leprosy, Naaman wasn’t just surprised — he was offended. That river was muddy. The instructions were simple. It didn’t seem worthy of a man like him. He wanted a spectacle. He wanted fireworks. He wanted to be healed on his terms.

But that’s not how God moves. God doesn’t need to impress us. He wants to change us.

And isn’t that where we often find ourselves? We pray for God to restore what’s broken — our bodies, our relationships, our peace — and then we try to tell Him how to do it. We want the overnight healing, the instant reconciliation, the powerful moment that feels like a movie scene. But so often, God works through obedience in the ordinary. He heals us slowly as we forgive over and over again. He restores us as we keep praying even when nothing seems to change. He strengthens us as we show up — tired, unsure, maybe even a little grumpy — and keep trusting Him.

Naaman’s story wasn’t just about skin disease. His healing went deeper than his body. God used a simple act of obedience to do heart surgery on a prideful man. Naaman walked into the Jordan skeptical, but he walked out declaring, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel” (2 Kings 5:15). That’s restoration. Not just a body made whole — but a heart turned toward God.

So if you’re in a waiting season — if you’re praying for restoration and feeling discouraged — take heart. Keep obeying in the small things. Keep trusting God’s timing. You may not see it yet, but He is working. He is healing. And when He restores, it’s never just about fixing the surface — it’s about drawing you closer to Him, the true Healer. And that’s a miracle worth waiting for.

Action

Is there something small God is asking you to do? A step of faith that seems too simple? Do it anyway. Your obedience could be the key to your breakthrough.

Prayer

Lord, help me not to miss the miracle because I’m looking for something dramatic. Teach me to obey, even when it feels small. I trust that You are working, even in the simple steps. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thought for the Day

Sometimes, miracles come through simple obedience.