Don't let doubt destroy your faith

Three years ago my dear friend asked me to pray for her older brother Ryan, who was (and still is) going through a constant battle .... the constant battle of cancer.  Her older brother has been diagnosed with Angiosarcoma.  Three years of constant praying.  Three years of feeling like you know him personally.  Three years of updates on him.  Three years of what seemed to be an endless battle.  Three years of reading his website for updates (because you don't want to constantly ask your dear friend for updates, because you can sense hurt in her voice).

And all of a sudden, there is a glimpse of hope!  According to the PET/CT he is cancer free!  Tears of joy run down my face.

"Thank you Father for Your healing power!"

Then a few days later my heart sinks.  My joy is no longer.  My tears are not of joy, but of sorrow.

The MRI made evident a spot about 1.6 cm on his brain.

"Why Lord!  Why did it have to come to this?!  Why couldnt the MRI come back cancer free!!"

Now all of a sudden my certainty is overshadowed by uncertainty.  I am beginning to doubt.

Then I'm led to these verses:

"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." 
James 1:6 ESV

"And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” 
Mark 11:22-25 ESV

"And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?" 
Luke 24:38 ESV

I don't need to doubt.  God has plan for good and not evil (Jer. 29:11).  No matter what the results the tests bring.

All I can do is:

*pray and thank God for Ryan still living and enjoying the time he can spend with his wife and two sons

*pray and thank God for Ryan's healing

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I do ask that you keep Ryan and his family in your prayers .... here are some of the ways you can pray for them:

*successful chemo treatment - August 18th he did Round 38 of his chemo

*my dear friend's family - that they will keep their current positive attitude throughout this trial.

*that I can be an encouragement to my dear friend through this hard time

*Ryan's wife and two sons