Evangelist Nabeel Qureshi, who is suffering from advanced-stage stomach cancer, shared a powerful message about trusting in God's providence as he prepares to undergo immunotherapy next week.
In a video blog on Friday, Qureshi, an author and former speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, said: "I get a third round of this new chemo on Monday, and then I'm gonna get the immunotherapy starting on Monday as well, my first time...please pray that it would work."
While the procedure only has a 40% chance of working, Qureshi revealed that "some people have had miraculous results."
"I think God works miracles even through medicine," he said. "I don't think the two are necessarily separate, medicine and miracles. I think God works miracles through medicine, and that's what I'm praying for."
The evangelist went on to share that sometimes, it can be discouraging when it seems like prayers for healing aren't being answered: "Mentally you know God is all powerful, that He's sovereign, and that He's in control, but your heart is thinking, 'God, I'm praying and praying and praying, why aren't You doing anything?'" he said.
"Where we need to rest is right back here in the text," Qureshi continued, pointing to his Bible. "He is doing something, He's doing things you cannot see. He's been behind the scenes since the beginning of time. He's never not been God, He's always been in control, and He's always done His job perfectly. We have to rest in that. We have to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding. At the end of the day, you end up resting on the sovereignty of God."
He added, "He is by definition, the best being in the entire universe. Everything in the entire universe is in His hands."
Qureshi appeared in the vlog with his father, who he introduced as "Abba". He revealed that his parents traveled to Houston, Texas to "take care" of him as he prepares for treatment.
When asked what advice he would give to those who, like Nabeel, are struggling with their health or taking care of others, Abba, who is Muslim, said, "My advice to you and everyone else is not to lose hope in God. Know that there is a loving God and he is always there for you and he does hear what you pray to him. It's up to him whether he wants to accept it or not and how he responds to it, but he is an ever-present God."
Qureshi's father added that because his son is always busy, it's been difficult for him to slow down and focus on his health.
"It takes a whole family to take care of someone...especially a person like him," Abba said.
Qureshi concurred: "I like to have my independence and my freedom..but you have to lay some of that down..and receive the help from people and the love."
He admitted, "The moment you get the diagnosis, you feel like life ends. You really have to do what you can to continue walking forward in life and continue making new memories."
Qureshi went on to say that as a public figure, he's no stranger to criticism - and a "vast majority" of the criticism he receives is from Christians. He said he's already expecting to receive feedback from his audience over the inclusion of his father in his vlog post.
"I already know that doing a video with my father, who has said that he is Muslim....I already know that I'm going to get a ton of criticism," he said. "I've prayed, my father and I have talked about these things, he knows where I stand, he knows I believe Jesus is Lord, he knows I believe He's paid the penalty for our sins, and rose from the dead as proof. He knows that that's what I believe, I don't have to bash him over the head with it everytime we talk."
He added, "We can still can do things like this together despite the fact that we disagree, and that's true love. If you only do things with people you agree with, that's not really loving them through their disagreements."
As earlier reported, immunotherapy for Qureshi's type of cancer has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and thus would likely not be covered under his health insurance,.
According to Qureshi, the cost for such a treatment would be about $20,000 per dose. However, a GoFundMe crowdfunding account dedicated to paying for his medical costs has raised a staggering $308,166, allowing him to undergo the treatment.
Should he pass, the proceeds would go to help his baby daughter, Ayah, and wife, Michelle, pay for Ayah's education and other costs.
