Elevated Friday, October 16th, 2020

Happy Elevated Friday! Today we highlight a story of endurance that shows what is possible even after a major setback. Andrea Mason was diagnosed with severe endometriosis and cervical cancer in 2017 and required life-saving surgery. After successfully beating this disease, she set her sights on a comeback – and in a big way. Just three years after the diagnosis, she completed the grueling “Sea to Summit” triathlon that covers more than 330 miles in 5 days. It’s hard to imagine something more grueling than this race, beginning by swimming the circumference of Lake Annecy then cycling and running up Mont Blanc, the 15,774 foot peak – the second highest peak in Europe. However, Andrea completed it in an amazing four days, 23 hours, and 41 minutes. Of the race, she said, “I had some low moments, particularly when I couldn’t sleep in my limited rest periods, and when I couldn’t keep any food down as I was running…For sure I had some doubts along the way. I was venturing into the unknown with such a huge run, particularly as large parts of it were in the dark…It was bigger than I imagined, the impact on my body was huge, but every time I felt like stopping and considered giving up, I kept remembering why I was doing it…I thought about all the women out there in pain or who still hadn’t been diagnosed. That is why I put myself through this.” Stories like this show what we are capable of when we focus our efforts on the future rather than allowing our present to dictate it.

We all have setbacks in life and sometimes they are more devastating than others. If there is one thing about God, though, it is that He loves a comeback. Countless stories in the Bible show God bringing suffering, hurting, and destitute people to overflowing blessing by His own hand. It is by trust, faith, and focus that we all can comeback from whatever we face. Colossians says, “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” Today, if you are in need of a comeback, start by trusting the Lord, having faith in His goodness, and focusing your mind on Him instead of what tries to keep you down.

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,” – Colossians 1:11 ESV

Original Article:

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