The Day After You Win
Yesterday was a big day. For me, it was the official launch of my book Snapshots: Seeing God in Everyday Moments. The build up was full of excitement, messages pouring in, people posting, my phone buzzing nonstop. It was one of those mountaintop moments that I will remember for years.
But this morning felt different. Quieter. Almost flat. I woke up asking myself, Why do I feel low after such a high? If you have ever experienced something similar, the day after a wedding, graduation, promotion, ministry win, or personal breakthrough, you know what I mean. Yesterday was the fire. Today feels like silence.
And you are not alone. Elijah, one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament, knew this feeling too.
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah called down fire from heaven. The people fell on their faces and God’s power was undeniable. But turn the page to 1 Kings 19, and the very next day Elijah is running for his life. He is exhausted, afraid, and even prays that God would take him out of the picture. How could a man who just experienced such a miraculous victory collapse into despair so quickly? Because mountaintop moments do not exempt us from next day struggles.
The truth is, mountaintop moments require valley maintenance. The same soul that soared yesterday still needs tending today. Your soul needs as much tending the day after the win as it did the day before.
The day after often comes with physical exhaustion as your body crashes after adrenaline fueled moments. It comes with emotional emptiness when the “now what” gap sets in once the big moment has passed. And it often brings spiritual resistance, because new ground always draws new opposition. Do not let emptiness trick you into thinking the win was not real. The win is not wasted just because the feeling fades.
Notice how God responds to Elijah. He lets him sleep. He gives him food and water. He does not scold him but comes in a gentle whisper. And then He gives him a fresh assignment. God gave Elijah bread before He gave him a briefing. Care before calling. Rest before running.
That rhythm is something we need to pay attention to as well:
Rest - Take care of your body. Sleep, eat, hydrate. Do not confuse exhaustion with failure.
Reflect - Celebrate the win instead of minimizing it. Write down the ways God showed up. Gratitude resets your perspective.
Resist - Push back against lies of isolation, doubt, or insignificance. Speak truth over yourself: God is still with me. This story is not over.
Re-engage - When the time is right, take the next faithful step. You do not have to do everything today, just start with one thing tomorrow.
Maybe today feels anticlimactic for you. You have had your win, but now you feel drained, uncertain, or even under attack. Remember, God is not only in the fire. He is in the whisper. Do not let the silence of today rewrite the miracle of yesterday.
Victory has an echo. Tend it, or the void will.
When you find yourself in that quiet space the day after a win, let this simple prayer guide your heart back to God.
Lord, thank You for the victory You gave me yesterday. Today I choose to rest in Your presence. Quiet the lies that tell me I am alone. Remind me that You are still with me, that You are not finished, and that my story is safe in Your hands. Give me strength for the next faithful step and teach me to listen for Your whisper. Amen.
