Too Easy to Be True? What Naaman (and Adrian Plass) Taught Me About Grace

We live in a world where suspicion is almost second nature. You see an advert on Facebook: “Get this amazing product free — just pay postage!” and your first thought is probably, what’s the catch?

And to be fair, most of the time that instinct is right. I used to work in marketing, and I know how these “special offers” often hook you into paying for things you didn’t really want in the first place. So we keep our wits about us. We ask the questions: Is this for real? What’s the hidden cost?

But that cynicism — which serves us well in supermarkets and sales pitches — can quietly harden into a barrier that keeps us from receiving genuine good things. Even gifts. Even grace.

When Free Feels Suspicious

Years ago, I worked for a charity that provided laptops for children with visual impairments. The laptops came loaded with software worth over £1,000, and I spent a lot of my time simplifying the application process — three pages, clearly laid out, no trick questions. But when I’d go to trade shows and tell people about it, I’d get blank stares and furrowed brows. People didn’t trust it.

I gave out loads of forms. Most never came back. But those who did fill them out? Nine times out of ten, they got a laptop. When I rang them up to let them know it was on its way, they’d often say, “I didn’t actually think it would happen.”

Something in us finds it hard to believe that a real gift might actually be… real.

Enter Naaman, the Leper with Connections

In 2 Kings 5, we meet Naaman — commander of the Aramean army, victorious, powerful, and apparently favoured by God… but also suffering from leprosy. For a man used to winning, this disease would have felt like both a physical curse and a massive humiliation.

Desperate for healing, he follows the advice of a servant girl and seeks out the prophet Elisha in Israel. He brings all the things a man of his stature should bring — silver, gold, expensive clothes. He expects, at minimum, a bit of fanfare.

He gets none.

Elisha doesn’t even come to the door. He sends a message: “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and you’ll be clean.”

Naaman’s response? Outrage. “I thought he’d come out and do some religious jiggery-pokery! At least wave his hand over me! And why the Jordan — aren’t the rivers of Damascus better?”

But underneath all the drama, his real issue is this: it’s too easy. This isn’t what healing is supposed to look like.

Overthinking God

Naaman’s reaction is striking because it’s so familiar. When it comes to faith, we often expect complexity. We assume that getting right with God must involve deep theological gymnastics, dramatic spiritual experiences, or at the very least, some form of payment.

Enter Adrian Plass.

In The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass: Christian Speaker (Aged 45 ¾), Plass introduces us to Ron — a man plagued by questions, over-complicating his relationship with God. And the thing is… Ron just needs to hear one simple truth: God loves you.

That’s it.

Naaman needed to wash. Ron needed to rest. Both had built up elaborate expectations of what it should take to be okay with God. Both were surprised to discover that the answer was simple.

Keep It Simple, Stupid

My dad used to tell me this phrase growing up: KISS — Keep It Simple, Stupid. It’s blunt, but it’s stuck with me.

Because when it comes to the Christian life, there’s a lot of beauty, mystery, and depth to explore — sacraments, Scripture, worship, prayer. But at its heart, the gospel is simple:

God loves you. You don’t need to earn it. You can’t buy it. Just receive it.

That’s it. That’s the river Jordan moment. It sounds too good to be true — but it’s the truest thing there is.

So maybe today’s the day to stop overthinking and start trusting. To stop trying to pay for what God freely offers. To believe — really believe — that God loves you, and there’s nothing you need to do to earn that love.

Because grace isn’t a con. It’s the real deal.

Want to keep things simple — but real — in your faith? I'd love to hear how this story lands with you. Drop a comment below or share your own "Naaman moment" when grace caught you off guard.