What should we do while we wait for scary test results?

No woman ever wants (or expects) to receive a call back after a mammogram. No man wants to get called back in after a colonoscopy or a prostate exam.

Like many, I treat annual tests like my home’s yearly termite inspection – something necessary and responsible, but not worth much thought. 

And when it’s done? Check off the box and move on. 

Until I get the phone call. 

“The radiologist would like you to return for additional scans. Your mammogram shows some changes that are concerning . . .” 

In God’s mercy, the facility schedules call back mammograms within five days of the dreaded phone call. But those were five very long days. 

When women get calls like this, some cry. Some pray. Some update their wills and healthcare powers of attorney. All try to keep busy. Activity pushes the fearful thoughts back into the closet. 

As I waited, the Lord led me to do several things that helped. If you’re in a waiting time, perhaps you’ll find them helpful too. 

1. I prayed. 

 “Lord, my life is yours to use however you see fit. I don’t want to have breast cancer. In your mercy, spare me. But if this isn’t your will, help me trust you. Give me your peace, and help me not be afraid. In the strong name of Jesus I ask, Amen.” 

Like a child running into the safety of her father’s arms, I flung myself on Jesus. “There’s a monster chasing me,” I admitted, “and I’m scared.” Praying reminded me it didn’t matter how big the monster was, my Father was bigger. After I prayed, I asked God to speak to me through his Word. I found precious comfort there. 

2. I asked others to pray. 

Not everyone – yet. There’d be time later to sound the alarm if the second scan was also suspicious. Part of me wanted to keep the news to myself completely, not wanting to bother anyone, but I knew I needed prayer. Corporate prayer is powerful. 

I shared my situation with a few women who knew how to approach the throne of grace with confidence. One friend shared a similar experience, reassuring me that ninety out of one hundred suspicious mammograms show no cancer. Another prayed with me immediately, strengthening me with her faith. Yet another offered to go to the imaging center with me. During my wait and on the morning of my scan, several texted reminders that they were praying. 

Sharing my need with others brought the monster out of the closet. It helped me realize that while my future was uncertain, I wasn’t facing it alone. If the outcome was favorable, my friends would rejoice with me. If the outcome was concerning, they’d walk with me on the journey. 

3. I limited what I read about mammograms and breast cancer. 

I accessed a few online articles on reputable sites, but then I made a deliberate choice not to read anything else. Every mammogram website linked to a breast cancer site, which fueled the flames of fear. There’d be time to research later if I needed to. 

4. I captured (almost) every thought.

Second Corinthians encouraged me. “We demolish every argument and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” We can’t prevent fear from knocking on our door, but we don’t have to invite it in. 

For me, fear knocked often during those five days of waiting. Some days it would manifest itself as scary thoughts that led me from diagnosis to death in three days or less. Other times I imagined dreadful treatment options. It was easy to become a faith amnesiac in the quick sand of panic. To escape, I forced myself to swim toward solid ground. This meant redirecting my thoughts, not allowing myself to fret, and reminding myself that no matter what happened, God would be with me. 

On the morning of the fifth day, as my husband and I prayed one more time, a thought occurred to me: Maybe this isn’t about me at all. Maybe, instead of me needing the folks at the imaging center, they needed me. 

Pray with the technologist before she does your mammogram, the Spirit of the Lord whispered to me. 

I was so sure the prompting came from God that as soon as the technician called me into the room, I blurted out, “May I pray for you before you do my scans?” 

Her eyebrows shot up, then scrunched into a puzzled frown. “Pray for me?” she asked. 

I suspect many patients pray for themselves, but perhaps no one had ever offered to pray for her. She shrugged her shoulders. “Okay.” 

So I did. 

“Father, thank you for Sheila. Bless her today. Enable her to do her job to the best of her ability. Use her skills to help the radiologist make an accurate diagnosis, not just for me, but for every person she cares for today. In Jesus’ name I ask, Amen.” 

When I looked up, shiny tears sparkled in her brown eyes.

Twenty minutes later, Sheila spoke the words I’d hoped to hear. “You can go now. The doctor says everything’s normal.” 

I may never know the reason for my anxious five days. Maybe I needed to strengthen my resolve to trust God no matter what. Perhaps I needed a greater understanding and empathy for those whose life has been impacted by cancer. I realize not everyone gets an all clear like I did. Maybe I needed to be reminded of how faithful God is to his children, especially in times of crisis. 

Or maybe Sheila just needed someone to pray for her. 

My experience was a powerful reminder that God uses all things for good if we trust him. 

Now it’s your turn. Have you experienced a trial when you had to battle fear with faith? I’d love to hear your story. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. And if you’re waiting for scary test results, leave a comment. I’d love to pray for you.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

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