"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." - Colossians 4:2

Update:

After the challenges and discomforts that last week brought, we have some wonderful news to share! According to the results from yesterday's lab work, Sara is not currently neutropenic! Her neutrophils have returned to a somewhat normal level, which means her immunity is much stronger than it has been in months! This is not to say that they will not return to a lower level since her diagnosis and treatment plan are especially hard on her immune system, but it is a reason to celebrate today.

She has also been experiencing much less neuropathy discomfort since her last update! She still complains about some numbness and tingling in her feet from time to time, but the pain has dramatically decreased since its peak last Monday night. Thank you all for your continued prayers, please join us in thanksgiving for the answered prayer and relief!

Thoughts:

For obvious reasons, I have been wrestling with the role of prayer as it relates to the sovereignty and character of our good Father. I have found that an individual's belief and understanding about prayer may correlate to the portions of scripture they frequently study.

Studying the Old Testament helps us to resign and trust in God's sovereignty and timing. The life of Joseph teaches us that our sorrows and trials may last for years, but he uses them for amazing purposes that we would not believe if He told us. In Judges 7, the story of Gideon teaches us that strength comes from God alone, and He will prove it by reducing our "armies" to the point that His control is undeniable. Esther teaches us to trust in ultimate control and sovereignty of God, even when we cannot see His hand in our circumstances. Jonah teaches us that God is going to carry out His will regardless of our own willingness to participate, and it will always result in His glorification. How many other stories can we find that teach us about His sovereignty and perfect timing?

Studying the New Testament teaches us to approach Christ in faithful prayer, fervently and faithfully bringing Him our requests. Consider the following verses (among many others):

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:7)

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

These may seem like opposing concepts on a spectrum, but they are not - they are two simultaneous truths! We must be careful not to reduce the character of God to fit our own comprehension, thereby limiting Him to be something that He is not. This is why we must study all of scripture: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16) 

He may answer our prayers, and He may not...but if He doesn't, there's a reason - a good one! 

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for Sara's neuropathy to remain distant and minimal and for the chemotherapy to continue to do it's job killing the cancer.
• Please continue to pray for my leadership and strength as the end of the school year (in addition to everything else) is beginning to take a toll on me. 
• Please pray for our daughter's allergy challenge appointment tomorrow. She will be required to be awake longer than her usual window and ingest small amounts of peanut to determine whether this is a true allergy or a false positive.