The teenage boy has been battling an aggressive form of brain cancer for months. Mark has shown the unwavering courage of a young man who follows God without flinching.
His pastor, Wayne, visits Mark one afternoon. The teen has been at the hospital for several days as he is undergoing another round of treatments to battle his cancer. Wayne wants to share some of God’s Word with this courageous teenager.
Mark’s hair is gone. His slender frame looks even thinner than Wayne remembers. His young body is marshalling all of its resources to battle the foe within.
Mark’s bubbling smiles lights up when Wayne walks into his room. He is thrilled to have a visitor stopping by.
To prevent transmitting any germs or infections, Wayne is gowned up. He looks more like a skilled doctor than a pastor.
After several minutes of conversation, Mark surprises his pastor by sharing a verse from Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.”
The fourteen year-old’s faith under such harsh circumstances is truly remarkable.
At the end of his visit, Wayne asks if he can pray over Mark. Mark quietly says, “Certainly!” The two of them share a few moments in prayer.
Walking down the hallway after leaving Mark’s room, Wayne thinks to himself, “I feel like Mark has ministered to me. I come to bolster his spirits, yet he is the one who reminds me to always trust in God.”
Published in March, 2020, this story was based on a true life experience of a fourteen year-old boy. An entire community rallied around him as he continued to battle cancer. He shared the verse from Proverbs in a video which was shared with many believers. His witness to his Lord was inspiring indeed. Sadly, Mark lost his long battle with cancer, but his courageous spirit will live on.
Big Sky Buckeye 