2 Kings 5:11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.
“Don’t quit. Sometimes the things you are hoping for come at unexpected times.”
Naaman the commander in chief of the King of Aram, (enemies of Israel) was a leper. There was no cure for leprosy in Bible times except a supernatural interjection to the decaying body. Hence, Naaman came to see Elisha the prophet. Elisha gave him a simple solution. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed” (2 Kings 5:10). Prophet Elisha didn’t even bother to come out of his humble hut to wave his hand over the violent warrior and cure him of his leprosy. He just sent a message through his servant! Namaan was furious and turned back to go back to his country but Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” (vs 13).
Naaman’s leprosy saw no difference after the first dip, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth dip. The seventh dip cured him of the lethal killer disease. The spots didn’t start to fade away after the 5th or the 6th. If he had given up halfway through he would have died a leper. Most breakthroughs come at the most unexpected times in the most unexpected way. Winner is a fighter but a quitter is a loser. The way we handle challenges and fight against compromises can make us winners or quitters.
Most times God’s solutions come as simple instructions. Keep praying, praising or persevering. Those who persist will win.
Don’t quit:
1. Dip: Naaman’s solution seemed too simple. The dipping treatment did not impress him. Dipping in the river of gratitude and soaking in praise and worship is the therapy to become a winner. God is looking for our humility not our ability. Trust, persist and win.
2. Difference: The difference between winners and quitters is that winners persevere but quitters give up. “Quitters never win and winners never quit.” Persist even when you don’t see the answer. Press on even when there are no silver linings in the dark sky. The tenacious will win.
3. Destiny: Our motivation and mental ability to press on and not give up will take us to our destiny. Most people blame others or God for their failures. God does not set anyone up to fail. The challenges we face help us to grow, bloom, blossom, flourish and thrive. Thrust through the tough trail.
Quitters don’t win and winners don’t quit. You can make it. God is on your side.
2 Kings 5:14b His flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, give me the tenacity to keep pressing on even when I feel like giving up. Amen
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