"So Naaman told the king what the young girl from Israel had said. 5 “Go and visit the prophet,” the king of Aram told him. 2 Kings 5:4-5a
Asking for help is not my strong suit. Not long ago, I was sick, but even though I was sick, I was determined not to ask for help. I would make do with the medicine and snacks that I had. I did not need any of my friends to bring me anything. Even though I did not think I needed anything, one of my friends was convinced otherwise. She texted me, saying, “I am going to the grocery store. Tell me what you need.” I almost told her “no” and that I did not need anything, but I knew a few things would really help me feel better. I asked for her help and told her one or two things I would like to have. I did not ask for much. Imagine my surprise when she dropped off a whole bag of goodies full of even more things than I had asked for. It brightened my day, and all the goodies she brought me helped me feel better. My pride almost caused me to miss out on my friend’s help, and I am so glad it didn’t. I wonder how often I miss out on help and gifts because of my pride. Maybe you wonder this, too.
When Naaman, the commander of the Armenian army, found himself in a desperate situation, he had no option but to practice humility and ask for help. He had leprosy, and without intervention, his outlook was bleak. When talking about Naaman’s situation, his wife’s maid talked to them about a prophet in Samaria, Elisha, who could help him. Immediately Naaman took steps to ask for help from Elisha, which started with asking the King of Armenia for permission to go to Samaria and ask Elisha for help. This step of asking for help required a lot of humility for Naaman, a man who was strong and used to help others. Now, he was an outcast in desperate need of healing if he were to have any hope of his life returning to how it was before he became sick.
Desperate situations often force us to ask for help because they show us that we cannot handle them alone. We must let go of the false narrative that we can do everything ourselves. Asking for help is humbling, but it is also freeing. It teaches us that we were not meant to do life alone. We were meant to live in community. Will you ask for help today?
Think of an area in your life where you need help. Take it to God. Ask Him for help, remembering He is your all-powerful Heavenly Father who wants the best for you. Ask Him also to put people in your life who can help you. As you go throughout your day, look for those who might be able and willing to help and ask for help!
2 Kings 5:1-6 (NLT)
"The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.
2 At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. 3 One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”
4 So Naaman told the king what the young girl from Israel had said. 5 “Go and visit the prophet,” the king of Aram told him. “I will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the king of Israel.” So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter to the king of Israel said: “With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.”
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