Waking up came with ease and giggles, but upon entering the kitchen to pack their lunch and have breakfast their attitude swiftly shifted. Suddenly, everyone in the home was an irritation. A frustration to this child's morning routine. They were snappy to say the least. As the time neared to board our "bus" (i.e. our family van), they let their shoulders fall and rammed their head into my chest confessing the truth of what was going on through many tears... "Mom, I'm just so anxious and frustrated over this paper that's due on Friday. I didn't get help from my teacher because we ran out of time."
We've all been there right! Distracted so heavily by one issue that we can't possibly walk through any others well.
This ten year old child recognized in an instant that all of the external morning frustrations, inconveniences, and interruptions(including their siblings) to which they were abruptly responding to with anger and unkindness had nothing to do with them at all. There was a deeper worry, concern, or wound rooted in my child's heart that was being triggered by everyday circumstances that otherwise would have been ineffective in irritating her. Thank you Father! This little one gets it.
In 2 Kings 5, Naaman, a valiant soldier and commander in the army of Aram, had leprosy. He is advised by a young girl to seek the prophet Elisha for healing and obtains permission from the King to seek him out. Upon his arrival to Elisha's home, Naaman is instructed through a messenger to go and wash seven times in the Jordan and his flesh would be restored and he would be cleansed. (2 Kings 5: 10) Naaman raged in his pride. How could this high ranking official simply be commanded to wash in one of the lesser bodies of water? How dare this prophet not rise up and come to speak to him directly but rather send a messenger on his behalf? Not only was his flesh infected with sores of leprosy but his heart was infected with pride to the extent that he was blinded to the close proximity of his healing! (verses 11- 12) In verse 13, his servants bravely point out to him how he would have followed instruction had the prophet encouraged him to do some great thing...How much more then should he obey in the seemingly lesser thing to obtain the same blessing of healing!
So in verse 14, Naaman humbles himself and washes 7 times in the Jordan and his flesh was restored and he was made clean. Isn't that what we really want? Above the justice and revenge, don't we just want to be made well, whole, healed, restored and clean? Then we must follow Jesus through it. Once Naaman saw the instruction as true and profitable, he rejoiced saying, "Now I know that there is not God in all the world except in Israel." He was recognizing God the Father as the only true God who is able to restore and set free, able to see him in his desperate state and respond. Is there any greater hope? Certainly not.
Friend- we too can be this way. We overcomplicate it. Jesus tells us to forgive as He has forgiven us. To repent and turn from our wicked ways. These seemingly simple and insignificant things don't appear to obtain the revenge or justice our hearts crave and yet the very thing we do crave will not produce life or restoration in our hearts. For it is said that vengeance is the Lord's. Be still and allow the Lord to have His way. The seemingly "lesser" things, forgiveness and repentance, that require much humility as it did with Naaman are actually the greater things that will bring forth healing. God does the rest. He gives us the simpler task and He takes it from there. Healing is in His plan for us. Are we willing to wash in the rivers of grace and mercy that He so freely lavishes on us and as told us about through Jesus Christ - our Advocate, Lord, and Savior?
Scripture warns us to not allow a root of bitterness to form in our hearts. "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. (Hebrews 12:14–15). Ephesians 4:31 encourages us to "get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." Bitterness throughout the Scriptures finds its company with rage, hostility, captivity to sin (Acts 8:3), complaining, and gall defined as impudent behavior and resentment. No wonder our loving Father says get rid of the root of bitterness, the root that produces bitterness...
So the question remains what is the root cause of the emotions being displayed? In my life, when those feelings begin to boil within typically there is some form of unforgiveness or sin. In traditional American allopathic medicine, when there is one among us that is sick, we offer them medications to calm down or remove the symptoms of the disease or medications are administered to return the body to homeostasis or balance... Whereas in other cultures and alternative forms of medicine, the root cause of the disease process is explored. Once the root cause is healed then symptoms vanish.
Just as my precious child realized that their reactions to their "now" were actually heart responses overflowing from their yesterday. We, too, must pause and question why are we reacting the way we are. With the help of Holy Spirit, we too can see the root cause of our reactions that stem from our emotions that rise up from a root... That root when acknowledged, healed, replaced with Truth will indeed set us free to no longer respond to the pain elicited by future situations. Christ came to set us free that we are no longer bound in chains by our choices or the choices others have inflicted upon us. There is healing in His name. There is salvation in His name.
Jesus is the Word in the flesh. Scripture says, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) There are times in our lives where we just see the symptoms of a broken, bruised, or unbelieving heart in us on display but have not a clue as to where it is coming from. Take some time, come apart from the chaos and ask Jesus. He knows. As David prayed in Psalm 139 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Then be still and be willing to listen and obey...
Forgiveness and repentance seems hard in the moment, but unforgiveness and the captivity of sin is harder in the long haul.
Be free friends!! You are loved!
Worship Suggestions:
"I've Been Washed" - Eddie James & Fresh Vine Music-
"Isn't the name of Jesus"- Covenant Worship- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSk7pS9StK8
"That's the Power" - Hillsong- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwEXH-jIsgA
"Adonai"- Chris Renzema - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCK_cK4FWbw
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