For some patients and their families,  faith becomes even more important–or questioned–during illness. Whitney explores this topic in her letter that won Honorable Mention in 2014.

To: whitneyj@earth.com

From: yoursavior.bff@heaven.com

Cc: The world

Subject: Trust Me

Dear Whitney,

There are some things that are meant to be understood but then there are those things that only I can explain. From before the day you were born, I knew everything about you and I knew of every happy and sad moment that you would encounter. I knew that you would fall off your bicycle the first time you rode it. I knew that you would cry your second day of Kindergarten. I knew that you would get lost your very first day of middle school. I knew that you would hate eating spinach. And, yes, I even knew that you would have cancer. In fact, I knew when the first tumor would begin to grow and I knew the exact day, hour, minute, and second that you would discover it was there.

Every day you talk to Me, you ask me the same question: why have I allowed this to happen to you? Well Whitney, I could answer that question but then there would be no reason for you to have faith in Me. If I told you everything, you would have no reason to trust Me. The truth is that there is a reason why I am allowing this to happen to you. In fact, this is a part of My perfect plan for you. If you remember, in Jeremiah 29:11, I reminded you that I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

My dear child, when I say something, I mean it. You must know that My words stand true.

As I watch you go about each day, I notice your faith wavering. I notice that when things get rough, you begin to doubt Me. I have been hearing your thoughts. I know you think I am not with you. You think I have abandoned you and forgotten about you.

What you seem not to understand is that I am with you every second of your day. NEVER have I left your side.

Yesterday, when you broke down crying and wanted to give up, I had my arms around you the entire time. Today, when the nurse came in to give you your first round of chemotherapy, I was right beside you through the entire treatment. In fact, not only did I have my hands on you, but I also had my hands on the chemo and the nurse administering it. Tomorrow, as you start to become weary I will wrap My arms around you, hold you up, and provide you with strength. You must know that I have held you since your birth and forever will my arms remain around you.

I know right now you are confused and do not understand why this is happening, but there is something I need you to do for Me. I need you to have faith in Me. I need you to live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). I know to you things look bad right now but you must remember that I am greater than anything you have encountered. I have placed the doctors in your life for a reason but you must know that I am your Most High Doctor. I will be the one to heal you. My daughter, all you need is faith the size of a mustard seed (Luke17:6). It is by faith that you will be healed (Luke 8:48).

I love you more than you will ever know. Your battle with cancer is not your own, it is Mine.

If you hand it over to me and have faith, I will fight this battle for you. Just trust Me.

God, Your Best Friend & Heavenly Father

Upon publication in 2014, Whitney is a senior at Northern Vance High School in Henderson, NC and will be graduating in June.  In August she will be attending the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and will be pursuing a degree in nursing. Her favorite hobby is serving God and serving others! Whitney loves community service and is dedicated to this passion.  She truly believes that with God anything is possible. Whitney looks forward to the future and is very grateful to the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation for helping her to achieve her goals.