Light for the JourneySample

Didn’t See This One Coming!

Standing in front of the mirror, I stared at the massive swelling — what we Jamaicans call a “coco” — right in the middle of my forehead. All I could say was, “I didn’t see this one coming!”

Just the day before, I had accidentally walked headfirst into the edge of our heavy-duty glass shower door. My dear husband had unintentionally left it open. I can still hear the crash of my skull meeting that door. The pain was blinding. I dropped to the floor screaming, and that bruise stayed with me like a bad attitude for the rest of the day.

I kept asking myself, how did I not see that door open? But deep down, I knew this wasn’t just a clumsy accident. It felt like something more, a sneak attack straight from the king of hell himself.

Just that morning, during my quiet time with the Lord, I’d received a powerful revelation; something I knew the enemy didn’t want me to see. So, of course, his next move was a sucker punch to the face. I could almost hear him taunting, “Take this, Shyann. Blame your husband, ruin your day, and cancel your plans. That’ll teach you!”

As I lay on the bathroom floor, groaning, it hit me again spiritually. This was a setup. The enemy wanted to bait me into conflict, steal my joy, and sideline me from what God had planned. But I wasn’t about to take the bait. Blaming my husband wouldn’t undo the pain. And swollen forehead or not, there was no way I was canceling my long-awaited catamaran trip.

So I did what any woman of God (with a sense of humor and a well-timed worship playlist) would do. I started singing “Victory Belongs to Jesus,” scraped myself off the floor, threw on a hat to cover the battle scar, and smiled and told my husband, “Let’s go!”

2 Corinthians 2:11(KJV) clearly shows how the devil operates and warns us to be fully aware of his strategies and not fall for them: “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

The enemy specializes in blindsiding us, throwing random chaos our way to distract, discourage, or divide us. His schemes are sneaky, but not new. Whether it’s a random injury, a sudden conflict, or an emotional spiral, these setups are designed to provoke a reaction. But we have the power to choose a different response.

When life hits hard, literally or figuratively, don’t give the enemy the satisfaction. Recognize the scheme. Reject the bait. And keep moving forward. Press on, even in pain. Sing through the tears. And don’t forget your hat!

Prayer

Lord, thank You for divine wisdom and spiritual discernment. When the enemy comes at us with distractions and sneak attacks, help us to recognize his tactics and stand firm in Your truth. Please give us the grace to rise above the expected response and choose peace over strife, faith over fear, and joy over frustration. Let our hearts be anchored in You, and may praise always be our weapon. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection

1. Can you recall a time when an unexpected “hit” tried to steal your joy? How did you respond?

2. Next time, what can you do differently to recognize the enemy’s tactics and choose a faith-filled response?