Rejoice – day forty-one is coming!

In scripture, the number forty denotes testing, trials, and temptation. God told Noah, “I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights…I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made” (Genesis 7:4 NIV). Goliath defied the armies of Israel for forty days: “For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand” (1 Samuel 17:16 NIV). On the threshold of His ministry, Jesus was attacked by Satan for forty days: “Jesus…was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil” (Luke 4:1-2 NIV). But day forty-one was coming! After forty days of rain, God gave mankind a new beginning. After forty days of Goliath’s threats, God gave David a spectacular victory. After forty days of temptation, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside” (v. 14 NIV). So the word for you today is hang in there – day forty-one is coming! Don’t give in to fear and despair. Don’t quit, and don’t run. God has ordained victory for you. You may have taken a few hits and carry a few scars, but God will bring you through and make you stronger and wiser if you trust Him and stand on His Word. The Bible says, “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The power at work within you is greater than the circumstances that surround you and the foes that oppose you. So the word for you today is rejoice – day forty-one is coming!