My soul was flooded…
So, you, my son, be strong [constantly strengthened] and empowered in the grace that is [only to be found] in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 2:1
Reflecting on why my soul has been flooded with the term enlarge, I see the word opportunity.
Every day, we’re presented with opportunities that expand who we are from the inside out. Options that refine our character highlight what we value and strengthen the depth of who we are. If we accept these daily invitations as opportunities to grow - we enlarge our value and presence in life. Conversely, if we decide to step past them, we lose an incredible opportunity for meaningful growth. The growth that’s lined on purpose and for a purpose.
I want to say I’ve been intentional with my inner growth my whole life, and perhaps I have in doses, yet it’s when life side-tracked me that my attention was caught—capturing my mind and heart differently. My story with Enlarge started on December 9th, 2015.
I had just returned from a beautiful run on a sunny winter morning. The fresh, crisp air energized me to take on the day ahead.
Moments after walking in the door, my phone rang.
“Are you sitting down, Alyssa?” That is what the voice on the other end of the line asked. Her opening question made me know what was coming next.
“Your biopsies came back as cancer,” stated the healthcare professional on the other end of the line.
“Okay,” I said, with a tremendous sense of internal craziness flooding every inch of my body.
As she spoke, I tried to take good notes and ask relevant questions, all while my head was spinning, my heart was pounding, my mouth was drying up, my eyes were filling with tears, and the hand I was trying to write with was trembling. Internally, I was on fire.
I sat quietly in my home office when I hung up the phone. Alone.
My husband had just caught a flight out of town for work.
My kids were at school.
As I sat absorbing the call, my mind raced to: “What does this all mean?” “What’s ahead for our family?” “What’s the financial reality of this?”
After more appointments and scans, we learned the length and scope of my treatments ahead. Once I had fully comprehended what we were told, I drew upon God's grace to help me find His purpose throughout this unsettling period. I realized that it was up to me to adopt a positive mindset and perspective to move forward, which led me to approach this chapter of my life with the 3 G's in mind: Grit, Gratitude, and Growth.
Here’s why . . .
I had an opportunity to focus on my vision, not my circumstances. I had a chance to shape the view of resiliency and vulnerability for myself, my kids, and perhaps others watching. I had an opportunity to make my mind work for me, not against me.
When I could shift my thinking and live above my circumstances, I began seeing the meaning of this unexpected life season. So, rather than being frustrated by the edits to my plan, I paused.
Encouragement for Inspired Growth
The word that I continued to notice was “within.” I knew wholeheartedly that I had everything inside of me to navigate through this chapter - my internal anchors would be my guide. I learned to lift my soul and inner being to seek God’s presence daily — tethering my focus and strength to the final verses in Psalm 143, “Let me hear your lovingkindness in the morning, for I trust in You. Teach me the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.” When we keep our minds on God, not our problems, we can live on level ground through His supernatural strength.
Lord, I pray that I will be constantly strengthened and empowered by the grace found only in Christ Jesus. Please show me the way I should go, for to you, I entrust my life. Amen.
Photo by Averee Kreutzfeldt at Bar 33 Ranch, Blaisdell, North Dakota