And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?” 2 Kings 5:7
I spend a few hours every week seeing patients in our addiction medicine department, treating those patients in our system who are addicted to chemicals. Often, patients will be sent to me by desperate family members who know something of my story and who’re hoping that their loved one will experience a similar transformation. It can be a bit daunting, if I allow myself to carry the burden of being responsible to fix someone who’s struggled so badly for so long. I’m no miracle worker and I can’t make anyone stay sober. Still, sometimes it feels like others hope that I have a magic wand to wave over their loved one. Poof! You’re all better. I don’t have a magic wand though, so, under that pressure, if I allow it, I can sometimes feel like an imposter. I can’t do what they think I can.
This appears to be the same feeling experienced by the King of Israel in today’s passage. In the story, the commander of the Syrian army, Naaman, suffered from leprosy. When a previously captured Israelite servant told him that the prophet Elisha could heal him, Naaman went to the Syrian king with the news. The Syrian king sent Naaman to the Israelite king with a demand to heal Naaman of his leprosy. At this, the Israelite king quaked. He had no healing power. He couldn’t perform miracles. He thinks I can do something that I cannot. I’m in over my head.
I’ve felt that. I can’t perform the miracle they want. At those times, I must remind myself of what I can and cannot do. Despite other’s hopes, I can’t make anyone get or stay sober. I can help point the way though, and it’s my responsibility to do what I can to help those who’ve struggled as I have. Failure isn’t being unable to perform miracles. Failure is refusing to use what tools I have, to do what I can. And I can help. I can point the way. The patient must do their part, but first, I must do mine. Daily then, I must use what God has given me to help those he’s put in my path. I’m not responsible for the outcome. I can’t work miracles. I’m simply responsible to do what God asks of me.