It’s been a while since I’ve been this excited about getting older! Turning 40 was hard – not just with the idea of changing decades, but all of the challenges that came along with it. It seemed that as my age increased, so did my anxiety, physical difficulties, and trials. When I felt like it would just go on forever, someone shared some interesting insights on the significance of the number 40, and a beautiful reminder that 41 was coming. With my 41st birthday approaching, the timing of this reminder was perfect! I started digging deeper into each one and found some valuable lessons.

Raining in the times of Noah (Genesis 7)

For 40 days and 40 nights, it rained. Not only did it rain – it poured. Probably, pretty relentlessly. The waters flooded the earth, and the ark was surrounded by water with no land in sight. We too can feel surrounded by our problems, with no escape to be found. In the midst of the constant rain, with the water continuously rising, it probably seemed like it would never end. But on day 41, the rain stopped. Hope broke through the clouds as the sun started to shine again. The water didn’t vanish, but having an end in sight – knowing that water would start to recede – brought hope. In the same way, we can get overwhelmed and feel like it will never end… but it will. Our problems and challenges won’t magically disappear, but God shines through the cloudiness and darkness of it all and brings forth hope and a vision of promise that all things are for a season, and a new season is on the horizon.

Goliath taunted the Israelites (1 Samuel 17)

The giant Goliath taunted, tormented, and terrified the Israelite army, and “for forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand” (1 Samuel 17:16). David was the youngest, and probably the smallest of his brothers; however, he recalled how God had helped him before, and had faith God would help him again. With that in mind, David stepped out and said to the giant, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17: 47) and with only a “sling and stone”, on day 41, David triumphed over the giant (1 Samuel 17:50). We will have things in our lives that are bigger than us. We might feel too small, too fragile, or too inadequate to face that giant, let alone slay it; however, we can face them with the remembrance of what God has already done. We can know that it’s happening for a reason, that it will be used for His glory, and that with Him on our side, we will have victory!

Jesus was tempted in the desert (Matthew 4)

Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil for 4o days and 40 nights. Not only that, for those 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus was alone and had been fasting. It’s easy to think that when we go through trials, that we did something wrong. We can see here though, that sometimes that’s where the Spirit has led us to be. Even when we’re at our weakest, and acting out our faith – fasting, praying, reading the Word – we can and will be spiritually attacked and feel alone. God is always with us though, and just as Jesus responded to the devil with the Word, we can do the same. After the 40 days and 40 nights were over, on day 41, “the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him” (Matthew 4: 11). Yes, sometimes we go through things, but God is faithful to equip and sustain us through the trials, as well as strengthen and surround us after.

I have clung to these pieces of truth for the last few months. As my birthday got closer, and is now here, I have felt the heaviness begin to lift and be replaced with the hope of a new season, the assurance of victory against the giants I have been battling, and the knowledge that the rest, restoration, and renewal that only God can provide will surround me. For that, I am thankful and truly happy to be 41.