Let Go

My time spent working in the hospital left me with many memorable encounters. As I was reflecting on a certain Biblical text, I remembered a very special friend. Her father was my patient for therapy. Thou we hadn't known each other before, we instantly connected.  

 

Her father’s illness has been quite the journey for her family, but they were believers and were earnestly praying that God would direct them every step of the way. Every day she updated me on their progress.  

 

One day, as I was making my way down to their room, I found her waiting outside the door in tears. “Everything that could possibly go wrong, has gone wrong!” she confessed.  

They had been waiting on a physician for some time now and when he arrived, he gave them very little hope. In fact, he was signing off on their case, which meant another physician would be assigned to them.  

 

“But we were counting on him”, she said.  

 

I told her I was convinced that if they are trusting and believing God, they had to trust that what he is doing is in their favor. Though presently, it may not appear to be so.  

"Perhaps the other physician is an answer to your prayers and the one God chose for your family", I suggested.  

 

When I returned the following day, she was waiting for me at the door again. “You were right!” she said.  

 

They were so pleased and impressed with the compassion of their new physician. God was working in their favor.  

 

When we come to God to act on our behalf, we have to let go of all preconceived ideas on how he will act. Often, we mentally compile a step-by-step plan as solution to our dilemma.  We set expectations on what the answer to our prayer should look like.

 

The Old Testament shares a very similar story. 

 

A man named Naaman was sick with leprosy. He was told there was a prophet in Israel that could heal him of the disease. Naaman hopefully arrives at the doorstep of the prophet Elisha.  

 

Elisha sends a message with very specific instructions. 

 

Naaman becomes upset.  

 

But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the LORD his God and heal me! (2 Ki. 5:11 NLT) 

 

Notice “I thought” and “I expected” 

 

Naaman was upset because the given instructions were not aligning to his preconceived plan.  

 

But thank God there was someone around that was able to convince him otherwise. Letting go of personal plans and expectations while submitting to God’s brought him favor and healing.