So listen… I thought the hog chapter was closed. Conquered. Slain. Cooked. Plated.
Through the Holy Spirit, I had overcome every single obstacle to purchase and prepare my own big, beautiful, and garnished pork ham for the first time in my life. Victory dance and all… Sister-in-law was proud of her latest protégé.
That night, about an hour after eating my yummy ham, I noticed my breathing was a little… creative. Short. Shallow. Off.
Didn’t think much of it. I told myself, Girl, you just ran a hog marathon. Sit down.
Fast forward to the next day.
I lovingly made my husband a ham sandwich. I made one for myself, too, because surely, I earned it.
My husband ate his with great delight. Joy. Peace. Thanksgiving.
Halfway into mine? Boom! Shortness of breath. Allergic reaction.
And right on cue, here comes the enemy, petty and loud, mocking me like, “You thought you won. You thought you conquered the Hog.”
I won’t lie. I got a little despondent.
Because isn’t that how it feels sometimes?
You do the hard thing.
You obey God.
You push through.
And the ending doesn’t look like the picture you had in your head.
But two days later, while watching my husband happily enjoy another ham sandwich, the Holy Spirit gently interrupted my pity party:
“Shy, there are some things you will build for others to enjoy.”
Whew. That’ll preach.
He continued: “Yes, you conquered the hog. But now go to number two on your list. Don’t stay bitter at number one just because the story didn’t end the way you wanted it to.”
Conquer and move on.
TAKEAWAYS – READ TWICE
The scripture that brought it home… “One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…” Philippians 3:13–14 (NIV)
- Not everything you overcome is meant for your consumption.
- Some victories are assignments, not appetizers.
- Just because you can’t enjoy the fruit doesn’t mean the work was wasted.
- Just because it didn’t bless you the way you expected doesn’t mean God wasn’t in it.
- Some wins teach you endurance.
- Some wins feed other people.
- Some wins close a chapter so you don’t get stuck rereading it.
- Don’t sit staring at a finished battle, waiting for it to turn into something else.
- Thank God for the grace to conquer, and the wisdom to move on.
There is a “next assignment” waiting, and bitterness will make you miss it.
PRAYER
Father,
Thank You for the strength to conquer what once intimidated me.
Forgive me for lingering where You’ve already given me victory.
Heal any disappointment that tries to disguise itself as discernment or wisdom.
Help me celebrate what I built, even if it blesses someone else more than me.
Give me grace to release the last assignment and courage to step into the next one.
I choose progress over pity, obedience over offence, and purpose over preference.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
REFLECTION
Is there something I “conquered” that I’m still emotionally camped at?
Am I resenting a win because it didn’t reward me the way I expected?
What might God be asking me to move on to, without dragging yesterday’s disappointment into tomorrow’s obedience?
Shyann Anderson has been saved for some 10 years. A Jamaican, she is a medical device sales executive overseas; and between family, church, and work, she has also found time to author the devotional, “Light for the Journey.”