Saying Yes to the Simpler Way

July 2, 2025

Saying Yes to the Simpler Way

2nd Kings 5:13 But his servants approached and said to him, "Father (Naaman), if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, 'Wash, and be clean'?"

Saying Yes to the Simpler Way

This verse from the story of the healing of Naaman, the great and mighty leader from Aram, coming to see Elisha, the prophet from Israel that he’s heard about second hand from his wife’s servant girl, feels to me like one of the best pieces of advice I can imagine anyone getting. Naaman is angry because the healing recipe isn’t hard enough. He’s angry because it feels too good to be true that the prophet would get rid of his skin issue that has caused him so much trauma in this easy manner. He’s so angry – he’s not even going to go in the water. Until his servants have the courage to point out that he does hard things all the time; now is the time to listen to the prophet and say yes to this simple direction that could change everything for him.

As I read this passage it makes me wonder, when we search for ways to heal our minds, bodies, spirits, could it be that we are missing pieces of the puzzle because they seem too obvious? I’m not saying healing is easy – because it definitely isn’t. I am wondering if there might be pieces of the healing puzzle that we’ve overlooked as too good to be true. What simple invitations are we missing because we imagine the way forward has to be totally complex? What if we imagine looking at the journey of our lives from the balcony, or invite a trusted friend/family member to help us look? Would they see things we aren’t noticing that would be easy to do, and could make a difference?

Healing may not look the way we expect it to look or hoped it would look. Still, healing and wholeness are part of what God wants for us in our lives, and opening ourselves to ways that might look could change our lives from the inside out.

Reflection Questions:

1) Do you think there are times when you miss the simple way forward, because you are looking for a more complicated answer?

2) Who do you trust to help you see your life in a big picture way, rather than from the day-to-day view you might be stuck in?

3) How does it feel to pray for the vision and wisdom to see the path toward healing and wholeness that might be there for you – even if it’s not the way you would have liked to go?

Dear God, I am hoping to grow in looking for the simple ways you provide for healing that I’m missing. Help me O Lord to see your ways forward. In Jesus Name, Amen