Until You Can't Get It Wrong

Leprosy was a serious illness in Naaman's day. Lepers were typically banished or at least put in quarantine, for fear of it spreading. He had to do something quickly. There was a servant girl in his household who suggested that he go to Israel to see the prophet Elisha, who she knew could heal him. Without any other options, he relented and made the trip to see God’s prophet.

When Naaman arrived, Elisha didn’t come out to see him. Instead, he sent a messenger with a prescription for Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. “What?” Naaman replied in anger, “I thought this guy would come out, wave his hand over my skin, and instantly heal me! Instead, he sent me away to wash in the nasty Jordan River? Nonsense!” Naaman stormed away, refusing to do what was asked of him until some of his teammates intervened:

"Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful." (Proverbs 16:20)

Naaman finally followed Elisha’s instructions and was healed. The commander wanted a magic pill, but what he needed was a dose of obedience.

In most areas of business and life, there are no magic pills, overnight successes, or genies in bottles.

Nope, it comes down to having the humility to obey the advice of those with more experience, and the discipline to do the work.

You can stomp your feet in protest all you want, but you won’t get the result without the process. If you want to accomplish something, find someone who has already done it and do what they say, no matter how uncomfortable it may seem. Remember, success is a process, not an event. I heard Nick Saban say recently that they didn’t practice to get it right; they practiced until they couldn’t get it wrong. It’s a process. Embrace it.