Sometimes God heals us "out of" our circumstances, and then again, sometimes, He heals us "through" them. I'll never forget learning that eye-opening truth in the Beth Moore Bible study, Daniel. For some reason, that statement made perfect sense to me. Something as difficult as the healing or "non-healing" of God, was finally made accessible and totally understandable to my finite brain.
Both of these situations - healing "out of" adversity and healing "through" adversity - can be found in the Biblical narrative of Naaman.
Naaman was a man who had everything going for him. In II Kings 5, we learn that he was a powerful man in the Syrian army - 2nd in command. He was well-respected by his master, the king. He was a valiant warrior (vs.1). Even his name in Hebrew, means "delightful, pleasant, beautiful"(Bible.org). Despite his stellar reputation and brilliance, Naaman was a physically desperate man. In the last part of verse one, the description of Naaman takes a tailspin: "but he was a leper." Boom. That was it. Unless something miraculous happened, the Great Naaman - the leader of the Syrian army - the pride of Syria - was doomed.
Fast forward: Naaman was healed "out of" his adversity. He journeyed to see Elisha, who sent word for him to wash in the Jordan river seven times. Naaman, unappreciative of the lack of pomp and circumstance presented to him at his arrival at Elisha's house, was angered. He had no desire to take a dip in a dirty river. After all, there were cleaner rivers back in Syria. However, after much pleading by his servant, the prideful Naaman, humbled himself and did as the prophet had said. He went into the dirty Jordan a leper and came out of the dirty Jordan, cleaner than ever! And get this...after experiencing his healing, Naaman became a believer in YAWEH and ultimately took that belief of the One true God, back to his pagan land of Syria.
Yeah! All's well that ends well.
But wait, there's more. There's another player in this saga...a much smaller player...who's healing didn't come in a "Yeah!" moment. Nope. God didn't heal her "out of" her adversity. Instead, God healed her "through" it.
We don't know a lot about this little girl, other than she was a slave to Naaman's wife after being stolen from her home by the raiding Syrians. I can't even begin to imagine living the life of this little one. It must have been traumatic.
On the upside, she was probably treated very well and had the finest things life could offer a servant girl. But she was still a slave and all alone...separated from her Mom and Dad, brothers, sisters, and friends forever. She knew she would probably never see them - nor her homeland again. Everything she had known was gone...never to be revisited again.
If I was in her shoes, it would probably please me to no end that my captor/master had contracted the disease so feared by my people. I would secretly glory in the revenge taken upon this man who ripped me from my home to live in bondage for the rest of my life.
We're not told if she ever felt this way, but somehow, somewhere, in the midst of her adversity, this little girl found healing "through" these emotional scars. For you see, it was she that told Naaman's wife where he could find healing. Obviously, God did an amazing work in her little life, so that she didn't hold a grudge against her master, but instead, decided that God knew all things and that He still had all things under control, whether it looked like it or not. She allowed God to heal her deep hurts THROUGH her circumstances, as she trusted Him to be in control OF her circumstances.
I find it interesting that we never hear of her again. We don't know if she received her freedom for her advice, but more likely than not, she didn't. I believe she probably stayed with Naaman's wife the rest of her life - taking care of the one who's husband stole her away from her family. But somehow, I don't think it mattered to her, because she saw God not only heal her THROUGH her adversity, but also change everyone else in her life BY her adversity.
Whatever place you find yourself in today, whether you need healing physically or emotionally, or both, know that God can heal - that He does heal - that He wants to heal. But also recognize that that healing may not come in the way you'd expect. Also, know that what He's doing in the adversity that you wish He'd take away may not just be for your good, but for the good of those around you. And finally, just know that He knows what He's doing. So whether He chooses to heal you out of it or through it, trust Him to know which is best.
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