“Naaman, a general for the king of Aram, was a great man and highly regarded by his master, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. This man was a mighty warrior, but he had a skin disease.” – 2 Kings 5:1 (CEB)
Read that verse again and watch the last clause undo the rest of it. Great man. Highly regarded. Mighty warrior. But he had a skin disease.
Everything before the “but” is what Naaman could arrange for himself. Rank, reputation, a king’s favor, a record of victories. The clause after it is the one thing none of that touches. The verse is built to land in exactly that order.
Notice too who the text says was behind his victories. Through him the Lord had given victory to Aram, and Aram is Israel’s enemy. God has been at work in the career of a man who does not worship God, on behalf of a nation that fights God’s people. That is the first strange thing in this story, and it is only verse one. What is the one thing in your life that all your effort can’t touch?
God, I have arranged a great deal and cannot arrange the thing that matters most. Meet me at the place where my competence runs out and my need begins. Amen.