Embracing Humility: The Path to True Healing

Humility is a difficult but essential posture for anyone seeking transformation and healing. The story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 illustrates this truth vividly. Naaman, a powerful commander, suffered from leprosy—a condition that not only brought physical suffering but also social and spiritual isolation. Despite his status and resources, he could not buy or command his own healing. Instead, he had to listen to the humble advice of a servant girl, approach a foreign prophet, and ultimately obey a simple, even humiliating, instruction: to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River.

Naaman’s initial reaction was anger and pride. He expected a grand gesture, a spectacle worthy of his position, or at least a task that matched the gravity of his need. Instead, he was asked to do something ordinary and unimpressive. It was only when he set aside his pride and obeyed in humility that he experienced healing—not just of his body, but of his heart and faith. He returned to Elisha, not just cleansed, but transformed, acknowledging the one true God and refusing to offer worship to any other.

This journey mirrors our own struggles with sin, burdens, and shortcomings. Like Naaman, we often want to handle things ourselves, to prove our strength, or to earn our way out of trouble. We resist asking for help, whether from God or from others, and we cling to the illusion of self-sufficiency. Yet, true change comes when we admit our need, surrender control, and humbly ask God to do what we cannot do for ourselves.

The story of the student carrying the heavy rock on the retreat serves as a living parable. We all carry burdens—some of our own choosing, some thrust upon us—and we often refuse help, insisting on managing alone. But healing and freedom come when we let others share the load, and when we lay our burdens down before God. The process of transformation is not always dramatic; sometimes it is as simple as a prayer, a confession, or a small act of trust. God meets us in our humility, not our pride, and works in us as we surrender, step by step.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Humility is the gateway to transformation. Naaman’s healing began not with a miracle, but with a willingness to listen to a servant, to seek help, and to obey a simple command. God often asks us to lay down our pride and approach Him with open hands, ready to receive rather than to earn or control. [44:39]
• 2. True healing requires surrender, not spectacle. Naaman expected a dramatic intervention, but God’s solution was quiet and ordinary. In our own lives, we may look for grand moments or emotional highs, but God often works through simple acts of obedience and trust, inviting us to let go and let Him work. [54:20]
• 3. We cannot carry our burdens alone. The story of the student with the heavy rock reminds us that stubborn independence only leads to exhaustion and isolation. God designed us for community and accountability, and healing often comes when we allow others to help us carry what we cannot bear alone. [51:00]
• 4. God works with the humble, not the self-sufficient. The posture that invites God’s transforming power is not self-reliance, but honest admission of need. When we stop pretending we have it all together and ask God to remove our shortcomings, we open ourselves to real change and growth. [48:27]
• 5. Transformation is a process, not a one-time event. As Sam Schumacher said, God reveals our defects gradually, giving us only as much truth as we can handle. Our part is to surrender as much of ourselves as we understand to as much of God as we know, trusting that He will lead us step by step into deeper freedom. [53:42]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [33:54] - Introduction and Setting the Scene
• [34:17] - The Retreat and the Backpack Exercise
• [35:05] - The Rock as a Symbol of Burden
• [35:48] - The Boulder and the Lesson in Extremes
• [36:01] - Reading 2 Kings 5:1-19
• [37:09] - Naaman’s Quest for Healing
• [37:38] - The King’s Dismay and Elisha’s Response
• [38:05] - Elisha’s Simple Instruction
• [38:28] - Naaman’s Anger and Pride
• [38:59] - Obedience and Healing
• [39:33] - Naaman’s Transformation and Gratitude
• [40:41] - The Miracle’s Significance
• [41:27] - Elisha’s Refusal of Payment
• [42:22] - The Struggle with Humility
• [45:08] - The Myth of Self-Sufficiency
• [46:43] - Naaman’s Humbling Journey
• [47:25] - Step Seven: Humbly Asking God
• [49:56] - Sharing Burdens in Community
• [52:22] - Surrendering Control to God
• [53:42] - Transformation as a Gradual Process
• [55:04] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

2 Kings 5:1-19 (ESV) — (Please read this passage together as a group before beginning the discussion.)

Observation Questions

1. What was Naaman’s position in society, and what problem did he face that he could not solve on his own? ([36:27])
2. Who first suggested to Naaman that he seek help from the prophet in Israel, and why is this detail important? ([36:27])
3. How did Elisha respond when Naaman arrived at his house, and what specific instruction did he give? ([38:05])
4. What was Naaman’s initial reaction to Elisha’s instruction, and what reasons did he give for feeling that way? ([38:28])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Naaman struggled so much with the idea of following a simple, humble instruction instead of receiving a dramatic miracle? ([42:22])
2. What does Naaman’s journey teach us about the relationship between pride and the ability to receive help or healing? ([44:39])
3. In what ways does the story of Naaman mirror our own tendencies to want to “earn” or “control” our healing or transformation? ([47:25])
4. How does the story of the student carrying the heavy rock on the retreat help us understand the importance of sharing our burdens with others? ([51:00])

Application Questions

1. Can you think of a time when you resisted asking for help—either from God or from others—because of pride or a desire to be self-sufficient? What was the outcome? ([45:08])
2. Naaman almost missed out on healing because he expected something grand and impressive. Are there areas in your life where you are waiting for a “big moment” from God instead of obeying in small, simple ways? What might those small steps look like for you? ([54:20])
3. The student with the heavy rock refused help until he was exhausted. What “rocks” or burdens are you carrying right now that you haven’t let others help you with? What would it look like to let someone share that load? ([51:00])
4. The sermon said, “God works with the humble, not the self-sufficient.” What is one area of your life where you need to admit your need and ask God for help this week? ([48:27])
5. Transformation is described as a process, not a one-time event. Where do you see God gradually revealing areas for growth in your life? How can you practice surrendering “as much of yourself as you understand to as much of God as you know”? ([53:42])
6. Sometimes we try to “pay” for God’s help by making promises or doing good deeds, like Naaman tried to offer gifts. Are there ways you try to earn God’s favor instead of simply receiving His grace? ([52:55])
7. What is one practical step you can take this week to practice humility—either by asking for help, confessing a struggle, or letting go of control in a specific area? ([52:22])