Good morning, Papa God!
Testing, trials, and tribulations have come to me throughout my life, but then they come to all people. I have discovered that so much change happens during these periods of testing if I do not ever give up. You have given me so much of Your power through these times. I, then, started thinking about some of those in the Bible who also endured times of testing, trials, and temptations, and I noticed the similarity of the forty days of duration. But it wasn’t the forty days, Papa God, that caught my attention. It was what happened after the forty days were over. You showed up in all Your power. There was:
- The Israelites in the desert wilderness for 40 years. Year 41, they marched into the Promised Land.
- Goliath taunting the armies of Israel for 40 days. Day 41, David slew Goliath with a stone and slingshot.
- Moses in Your Presence for 40 days on Mt. Sinai. Day 41, You gave him the 10 commandments and the Law for the people to follow.
- Moses in the desert for 40 years after fleeing from Pharaoh. Year 41, You spoke to him from a burning bush and called him to lead the Israelites out of bondage and slavery.
- Noah on the ark 40 days and nights, riding out the flood. Day 41, the rain stopped, and You made a covenant with him.
- For 40 days after His resurrection, Jesus ministered and instructed His apostles. Day 41, He ascended back to heaven to sit at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Jesus’ 40 days of fasting and temptations in the wilderness from Satan. Day 41, He started His ministry of repentance from sin and salvation through Him.
My child,
Yes, the number 40 in the Bible is associated with testing and hardships. A person must endure and not give up in order to become more spiritually aware. After the testing period, you will find yourself in a very different place, spiritually … a place of renewal, of spiritual strength and promise of guidance and instruction, of newness, of preparation for a new task, of self-examination and transformation. Why? Because you relied on and trusted Me when you had no answers and could not foresee outcomes. You learned, during the trials and testing, to trust Me with all your heart (not just part of it, but all of it), and to not lean on your own understanding. You learned to acknowledge Me and My ways as higher than yours, and that My timing is always perfect. You learned that I would direct your steps always – if you are still before Me and listening to Me. I will transform you through trials and testing just as I promised I would. Look at times of testing with a new understanding, My child.
(John 16:33; Gen.7:4; 8:1,6,15,20; 1 Sam.17:16, 32, 45-49; Exo.24:12-18; Acts 7:30-34; Prov.3:5-6)
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