I Thought

📖 TRUTH TUESDAY — “I THOUGHT…”Have you ever looked at something happening in your life and thought:“Well…that’s not how I thought this was going to go.”Naaman certainly did.He came to Elisha believing God could heal his leprosy. But when Elisha told him to wash seven times in the Jordan River, Naaman became angry.Why?Because Naaman didn’t just have a request.He had a script.In 2 Kings 5:11, Naaman actually says:“Behold, I thought…”He had already imagined how God ought to work.And sometimes we do the same thing.I thought God would answer differently.I thought that door would open.I thought this season would be easier.I thought my life would look different by now.But something changes in Naaman. In verse 14, instead of acting according to what he thought, he goes down into the Jordan “according to the word of the man of God.”That’s the turn:“I thought…” becomes “according to the word…”💭 Today’s TruthFaith doesn’t require God to follow my script. Faith trusts God when He doesn’t.And there’s one more beautiful piece.After Naaman is healed, he returns to Elisha and says in verse 15:“Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel…”“I thought…”became“according to the word…”and eventually became“Now I know…”Naaman came looking for healing.He left knowing God.That doesn’t mean laying down our expectations guarantees God will give us what we wanted another way. Sometimes He changes our circumstances. Sometimes He doesn’t.But the greatest thing God could ever give us isn’t the life we’ve scripted.The greatest thing God gives us is Himself.🙏 Today’s PrayerFather, I confess that sometimes I come to You with more than a request—I come with my own script for how I think You should answer. Help me hold my expectations with an open hand. When Your ways are different from what I expected, keep me anchored to what You have said in Your Word. Teach me to trust You even when I don’t understand what You are doing. More than getting the outcome I want, I want to know You and experience your presence and walk faithfully with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.Is there an “I thought…” that you need to place into God’s hands today?🎧 Today’s Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.