“Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, "Why stay here until we die? If we say, 'We'll go into the city'—the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let's go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die." 2 Kings 7:3-4

The story of the four leprous men is atypical. The health implications and social stigma of having leprosy weighed heavily on them. The fear of contamination was so high that they could not remain in the city with other Israelites. Adding to their misery, Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, besieged the city, leaving the four men without hope. Tired and hungry, they fearlessly resolved to face their destiny. Every stride they took was like a move of a mighty army. Confused and believing they were surrounded and outnumbered, Ben-Hadad and his army fled for their lives.

Lessons from this passage:

1. Whatever we accept, we cannot change : While the four men were fragile before the army, their strength lay not in their perception but in the potential already bestowed upon them. The first test was their courage to thrust through the unknown against all odds.

2. A burning desire : Change can only occur when one decides not to accept a certain situation. An African proverb says, "He who is not happy with the position of the sun should climb and change it." The burning desire to see their situation change ignited the four men into action. Although God led their burning desire, they had the choice to either give in or take the leap of faith.

3. Move despite your situation : It is unclear whether or not they were healed of their sickness. Even if they were, they could not enter the city. If they were not healed, the city and the army would still not have accepted them. Our actions should not be dictated by external factors but rather by the direction of the Holy Spirit. The future will only unfold with each stride we take.

Whatever is holding you back is not as mighty as the force that God has placed in you. Christ is your strength; will you let Him guide you?