There are moments in life that feel almost unreal — moments where everything suddenly changes, and you find yourself trying to process a reality you never imagined for yourself.

Ever since my diagnosis, I’ve felt like I’m having an out-of-body experience. Not because I believed something like this could never happen to me, but because I never imagined I would have to worry about my health in this way.

For years, my struggles with health centered around stress eating and comfort eating. I’ve dealt with fluctuating weight for a long time. At one point, I lost 65 pounds and felt proud of the progress I made. But after grief entered my life and after surgery on my ankle, I gained 50 pounds back. Weight gain and unhealthy eating habits were what I considered my “health issues.”

Never did I imagine breast cancer.

One thing I have always believed is that everything has a purpose. Even in painful seasons, I believe God is still working, even when we cannot fully understand what He is doing. Since my diagnosis, I’ve found myself asking God, “What is the purpose in this?”

One answer that continues to come to mind is early detection.

Because I stayed consistent with my annual mammograms, my cancer was caught early. That alone is such a blessing, and I do not take that for granted. At first, I planned to keep my diagnosis private. Like many people, when I go through difficult things, my first instinct is to isolate myself and deal with it quietly.

But then I started hearing how many women avoid mammograms altogether. Some women who are old enough to begin screening have never even had one. Others are afraid because mammograms can feel uncomfortable or scary.

That made me pause and think: maybe this journey is not just about me.

Maybe part of my purpose in this season is to encourage other women to take their health seriously. Maybe I am supposed to use my voice to advocate for mammograms, early detection, and treatment. If sharing my story encourages even one woman to schedule her appointment, then my pain is already producing purpose.

I still don’t fully understand why God allows certain things to happen in our lives. There are moments when fear creeps in. Moments when I wonder “Why me?” Moments where the future feels uncertain. But I also know that faith is not about understanding everything. Faith is trusting God even when we don’t have the answers.

The Bible says in Book of Proverbs 3:5–6:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

That scripture has been resting heavily on my heart lately because the truth is — I don’t understand everything right now. But I am learning that I don’t have to understand in order to trust God.

I also believe God never intended for us to walk through life alone.

As Christians, community matters. Support matters. Love matters. And through this journey, I have been overwhelmingly blessed by the people surrounding me. My family, friends, church family, and loved ones have covered me with prayers, encouragement, and support. So instead of isolating myself, I am choosing to lean into community.

Why would I keep this to myself when God has surrounded me with so much love?

The Bible also says in Book of Psalms 62:8:

“Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

That is exactly what I am learning to do — pour out my heart to God instead of carrying everything alone.

This journey is teaching me that strength does not always look like having it all together. Sometimes strength looks like allowing people to love you. Sometimes it looks like being vulnerable. Sometimes it looks like showing up scared but trusting God anyway.

I do not know every detail of what lies ahead. But I do know this:

God is still faithful.

God is still present.

And even this chapter will have purpose.

If you are reading this, let this be your reminder to schedule your mammogram, listen to your body, lean on your community, and trust God even in the seasons that make no sense.

Sometimes we may never fully understand the “why,” but we can trust the One who already knows the plan.