All Is Well

2 Kings 4:²⁶Run at once to meet her and say to her, 'Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?'" And she answered, "All is well."

2 Kings 5:²¹So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, "Is all well?" ²²And he said, "All is well. My master has sent me to say, 'There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.'"

In 2 Kings 4, the Shunammite woman told her husband and Elisha's servant that all was well when really, she was in bitter distress because her son had died. I looked it up in the ESV study bible and it said "All is not really well, but she does not want either her husband or Gehazi (2 Kings 4:26) getting in her way as she seeks Elisha's help." She does lie to them, but in the end, her actions proved to be righteous and blessed. Because she demanded the personal and immediate attention of the man of God, her son was saved. However, I am shown the opposite side of the coin in saying "All is well." Gehazi, Elisha's servant lies with this phrase as well, and in the end it brings him only trouble, sickness, and punishment. The ESV study bible says that Gehazi tried to cash in on an act of God. Gehazi wasn't seeking the Lord, he was seeking only self-gain.

These passages make me re-evaluate my motives. I think the Shunammite woman could say "All is well" even though she was very distressed because she knew that God would come through and she sought Him immediately and intentionally. On the other hand, Gehazi was motivated only by what he could gain from God's works and by saying "All is well" he misled others into thinking he was righteous. In my life, I must say that truly, all is well. I am blessed beyond measure with more than I've ever imagined. I have a husband who loves me they way Christ loves the church. I have a wonderful, supportive family. My son is healthy, smart and provided for in miraculous ways. The list could go on. But really, what I've learned from this time of devotion is that all is truly not well because at any second, everything can be lost. The only thing that cannot be taken from me is my personal relationship with Jesus. If I am not like the Shunammite woman, desperately pursuing a personal relationship with God, then I'll default to Gehazi's mindset which is selfish motives fuled by false entitlement to God's blessings. I want to be able to say in any situation that all is well because I know my Lord and Savior and because I trust in Him alone.

Heavenly Father, forgive me for trying to talk myself out of doing my devotion. I rationalize with things like, "I'm too tired, or there isn't enough time." I'm so sorry. You always have treasure in store for me when I take the time to sit with You. I'm a fool to think that I'll be better off skipping this precious time. Forgive me and create in me a desire to do what pleases You. Lord, I thank You that because of Jesus in my life, I can say that all is well. I pray that I seek You without ceasing and that I fight off the desires of my flesh to use Your grace for my selfish gain. Set me right with You, Oh God. I love You. Please continue to change me. I pray all these things in the precious name of Jesus Christ, Amen.