A Tender Heart
“Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, ‘Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’” (2 Kings 5:2-3 ESV).
Navigating the hallways of suffering, I’ve come to realize that adversity doesn’t necessarily deepen one’s connection with God. It’s a delicate emotional dance where faith and hope become entangled. Just as those who hear God’s word without responding with faith, suffering, divorced from faith and hope, breeds bitterness, causing our hearts to harden rather than soften toward God. In essence, suffering becomes a decisive factor…either propelling us toward God or pushing us away. In the throes of life’s trials, a pivotal question lingers for each of us: “Is this adversity fostering bitterness and callousness within me, or is it molding me into someone more loving and gentler?”
As I reflect on the verses in 2 Kings, amidst tales of kings and prophets, a poignant tale emerges, a narrative of gentleness and humility amidst profound heartache, personified by a little Israelite girl. Captured by the Syrians during a ruthless raid, torn from her family and homeland, she finds herself in the service of Naaman, a commander in the Syrian army. The tragedy that befell this young child and her family is unfathomable.
Yet, within the emptiness of her immense suffering, her tender heart illuminates the narrative. Upon discovering Naaman’s battle with leprosy, this child, who had every reason to harbor bitterness, selflessly shared the knowledge of potential healing with Naaman’s wife. In the face of such adversity, she didn’t succumb to resentment. Instead, she wished the best for her enemy, steering away from the temptation to wish ill upon him. This act is nothing short of remarkable. How did she find the strength to exhibit such compassion? Presumably, in the emptiness of her separation from family and the overwhelming sadness that enveloped her, she repeatedly turned to her loving God and His promises.
As I traverse my personal journey through suffering and extend empathy to those enduring deep affliction, the lesson from this little Israelite girl echoes loud and clear. Amidst the hardships, maintaining a tender and open heart is paramount. Is it an easy feat? By no means! Yet, the vast and all-encompassing faithfulness of God has the power to sustain us, even in the deepest realms of pain. The call is clear: turn to God in every circumstance, finding solace in His unwavering faithfulness and provision. In doing so, I unlock the ability to comfort others in their afflictions, drawing from the comfort I’ve received from God, echoing the sentiment in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
The story of the little Israelite girl becomes a poignant symbol, challenging me to assess my own responses to trials:
~ Am I, like her, choosing compassion over bitterness, extending love even when faced with adversity?
~ Or am I succumbing to the temptation of a hardened heart? The narrative prompts introspection on the source of my resilience amid suffering…a reliance on a loving God and His promises.
As I grapple with the complexities of suffering, the tale of the little girl teaches me to navigate pain with grace, drawing from the well of God’s faithfulness and emerging with a heart softened by compassion. Faith and hope become my guiding lights, ensuring that suffering doesn’t lead me astray but becomes a transformative journey drawing me closer to the heart of God.
The lesson is clear: it’s not the suffering itself, but the response to it, anchored in faith and hope, that shapes our journey and deepens our connection with the Divine.
JG