Listen

Naaman, a general for the king of Aram, was a great man and highly regarded by his master, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. This man was a mighty warrior, but he had a skin disease. Now Aramean raiding parties had gone out and captured a young girl from the land of Israel. She served Naaman’s wife.

She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master could come before the prophet who lives in Samaria. He would cure him of his skin disease.”

2 Kings 5:1-3

Think

Her presence is easily overshadowed by Naaman, the mighty warrior who has gained God’s favor. Her story is written in two short verses and her name is never mentioned. She is simply “a young girl.” Captured during a military raid, she was taken from her family and her homeland. She is a slave serving a foreign family in a foreign land. She must have felt helpless, lonely, and frustrated.

Have you ever felt this way? Like everything going on around you is completely out of your control? These moments can make us feel frustrated, angry, and worst of all, helpless.

But this young girl does not allow the world to define who she is. Instead of anger and hostility toward those who have taken her from her family and her home, we see her react with love, mercy, and a message of healing. She boldly tells her mistress about the prophet Elisha, pointing even her captors toward healing.

Kelli Kirksey

Pray

Dear God, the world looked at her and saw just a “young slave girl,” but you knew she was so much more than that. Give me the courage of this young woman to speak truth and healing into the lives of those around me. Amen.

Go

You are seen.

You are known.

You are loved to the very depths of your being.

Now go and share that love with the world.

This is the healing power of Christ Jesus in you.

Amen.