Quest 19 - Fall In Love With The Process

In 2017 the Iowa State Cyclones took the College Football world by storm. After having one single win over a top 5 ranked team in their history, they beat two top 5 teams in two weeks. These two victories had them tied for first place in the Big 12 and that was a big deal because their only conference title came a mere 105 years previously. 

As someone from the midwest, the only thing that anyone cared about dealing with Iowa State at the time was former Quarterback Seneca Wallace in the late 2000’s and even then only the deep cut fans of the sport would remember that name. But in 2017, it was different, article after article, story after story came out about this program putting it at the top of consumption. 

4 years later, they have gone to 5 straight bowl games, won the Fiesta bowl, and have become a marketable team. 

This has been the greatest stretch in their history. How did they get there though? I believe it comes from the mentality their Coach, Matt Campbell, enlisted in them. His post-game speech after they upset number 4 ranked TCU, was emotionally charged and gave the vision for their programs mentality. 

“You are teaching the college football world that toughness, discipline, and defense still matter.” Then just a few moments later he said this, “If you fall in love with the process, then eventually the process will love you back.”

In our Quest reading this week we read the story of Naaman the leper in 2 Kings 5. I will quickly walk through the story, but go read the full thing for yourself if you haven’t. 

Naaman was a great warrior for the Aram. Probably everything you would imagine him to be: Tall, strong, stoic. Ready to fight. But, then he catches leprosy. In that time, that would change everything for him and take away what he had built in life. He would be going from the guy that everyone would follow to the guy nobody would want to be around. 

Imagine the emotional blow of that, naturally, he is desperate to get out of it. Through his connections, he is sent to Israel to connect with the King  who, maybe, could find someone and perform a miracle and heal him for the affliction. 

This leads to the prophet Elisha becoming involved and it continues with this interaction. “So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”

Amazing right? What a gift from God! His life, not just the physical ailment, has been saved! Of course he would instantly choose to go and do what Elisha instructed.

“But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! 12 Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.”

Seems ridiculous. It was a simple process for him to go through, yet he chooses not to do it. I am shocked about it every time that I read this story.

And then I think about my own life or others lives and there are a lot of things that God calls me to do or things that would simply make my life better. If we would simply go through the process, life would be better. 

A consistent connect time makes life better. 

A healthy diet makes life better. 

A speech that is kind and non-gossiping makes life better. 

A decision to finish what you started makes life better. 

These things are not always easy, they take time, they take effort, but the process will work out to success. In regards to Naaman: I am positive that he thought there were more important things to do than go bathe seven times. If he was just instantly healed he could have gotten back into action. 

The more I think about this subject though, the more I realize that isn’t God’s design for our lives. 

When it comes to God, there is always a process. Our God is a God who has a plan, who has structure, who has a design. The way that plan, structure, and design is fulfilled is through a process that spills over into our lives and our calling. 

Take even the leper from Mark 1. The process wasn’t in the physical healing like Naaman, his was in the social healing. 

The process is one of the greatest things because it gives us a true sense of what God is doing in our lives. If it was just a hand wave, would we have gratitude for what He is doing? I would love to say yes, but history has told me otherwise. 

Thankfully, Naaman’s men talked some sense into him. 

2 Kings 5:13-14, “ 13 But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir,[c] if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” 14 So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!

When you fall in love with the process, then eventually the process will love you back. Naaman followed through with the instruction and saw the results. Those results gave him an understanding of who God is. 

2 Kings 5:15, “15 Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

So as we wrap up this conversation today. What process do you need to fall in love with? How will it give you a greater understanding of who God is? What will your life look like if you follow through? 

Here’s the bottom line: If you fall in love with the process, eventually the process will love you back. 

Let’s love the process this week.