Reactivating iMessage

Looking for some help reactivating iMessage after having my phone number suspended for several months.
I was out of the country studying abroad, and so during that time I suspended my contract with Verizon. While I was in Europe studying, I did activate iMessage using my apple ID, so I could talk to people in the states.
Now the problem is I can active iMessage. And use it, but it send/receives the messages using my apple ID rather than my phone number. When I go into the settings>Messages>send & receive  to change it and there are two options listed. option 1 is my cell phone number and the other is my apple ID. But I can't select my cell phone number. It's a light grey, compared to bold black of my Apple ID.
How do I go reactive my iMessage to work on my cell phone.
Other details: My phone has only been reactivated barely 24 hours.

Turn iMessage off, reboot the phone by holding both home and power button until apple logo appears then let go.  Once the phone restarts turn iMessage on again and put details in

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