40 Days & 40 Nights

40 & 40 Nights

It rained for 40 days & 40 nights. But on the 41st day, Noah found the rain had stopped. After Moses committed murder, he hid in the dessert for 40 yrs. Yr 41 came and God called him to rescue the Israelites. Moses went up to Mt Sinai for 40 days. Day 41 God gave him the 10 Commandments. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 yrs. Yr 41 they entered the Promised Land. Goliath taunted Israel for 40 days. Day 41 David killed Goliath. Jonah preached to Ninevah for 40 days. Day 41 God stopped His plan to destroy Ninevah. Jesus fasted and was tempted for 40 days. Day 41 the devil fled. After His resurrection Jesus appeared to his disciples for 40 days. Day 41 He ascended into heaven. So, what is the takeaway from this? The rain will stop, the giant will fall, you will enter your Promised Land. Just hold on.

I didn’t write this, but so many people I talked to this week, need this reminder. No matter what is going on in your life, God is there. I have wondered if the 40 nights were harder than the 40 days. Nights in despair are so long. He sometimes seems silent, and our wait can seem like forever. Sometimes we do not get the answer we want. But know this, God is still in control. He will restore the years the locust took away. He will slay your giant, He will stop your rain, He will lead you to the Promised Land. Your day 41 IS coming. Do not despair. Do not fear. God loves you and the Bible is full of His promises. He will pull you from the miry clay.

Psalms 40:2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.

Joel 2:25. “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming [a]locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust,

And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.

Joel 2:27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel:

I am the Lord your God And there is no other.

My people shall never be put to shame.

No matter what goes on in our lives, He cares. He knows the number of hairs on your head. As much as I love my children, I have never known that!

Lord, we thank you for the knowledge that have got this. That no matter the storm, you are there to lift us out and set us on dry land. Amen.

Shirlene Peterson