Don’t Give Up Too Soon
by Philip Asselin
Have you ever been tempted to give up? I know I have. The work is too hard. The person I am working with is too difficult. The days are too long. The journey is too far. There is no sign of any positive change. I’m running out of time, strength, money, resources, or hope. I can’t keep going much longer. I’m feeling I just have to give up, but I don’t know if that’s the voice of the enemy or just common sense. Let me share with you something amazing in the Bible to do with the number 40.
After Noah had completed building the Ark and the animals had entered, it rained for forty days. After that the rain stopped and the waters began to recede.
Moses hid in the dessert for forty years after killing an Egyptian. Then God appeared to him in a burning bush and gave him a second chance. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and nights and then God gave him the Ten Commandments. After the Israelites had failed God by worshipping the golden calf Moses spent forty days and nights in fasting and prayer. Then God renewed His covenant with Israel. After the Israelites then failed to trust God, they spent forty years wandering in the dessert. Then a new generation miraculously entered the Promised Land.
Goliath spent forty days taunting the Israelites as being too scared to fight him. Then David visited his brothers at the front line, challenged Goliath, and defeated him.
Elijah spent forty days and nights running away from God. Then he encountered Him and was given a new mission and purpose.
Jonah spent forty days preaching judgement on Nineveh. Then God showed mercy on the city because of their repentance.
After His baptism Jesus spent forty days and nights fasting in the desert. Then Satan appeared, Jesus defeated him and began His ministry. After His resurrection Jesus appeared to His disciples for forty days. After that He ascended into heaven.
This tells us something profound. In the Bible, the number 40 consistently marks a time of testing, judgement, preparation, purification, and waiting. What follows is almost always deliverance, revelation, restoration, repurposing, new authority, and new beginnings. This period of great difficulty, uncertainty and challenge is not the end, but the threshold of something new and exciting. Don’t give up too soon. You haven’t reached the end of your 40 yet!
Philip Asselin Philip is on the associate ministry and teaching teams with Glyndley Manor. He and his wife Gillian attended the second Healing Retreat at Glyndley Manor in 1992, and were greatly helped. They have two grown up children, one grandson, and a step-granddaughter in California, and a daughter and granddaughter in Eastbourne. His desire is to see people healed and set free to serve God.
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