A Time of Waiting

In scripture the number, forty, is significant.

It symbolizes a period of testing, trials, and transformation.

This number represents

a time of waiting

and renewing.

When early readers of scripture saw the number, forty, they didn’t take this as a literal amount of time, rather they understood it to mean “a long time.”

They knew this number was a cue to pay attention and take note because something important was about to happen.

The number, forty, meant a time of struggle and wrestling was coming as was an opportunity to grow and learn.

The number, forty, meant the writers were about to reveal a season of change.

Transformation and renewal were on the horizon.

The readers understood the cue.

They knew because of this significant number.

In a couple of weeks, I will release my second book The Renewing.

This book will hold forty writings.

These are journal entries I collected over the past forty weeks.

This has been a season of change for me.

It has been a long time of waiting but it has been a season of transformation and renewal.

These forty weeks follow another season of my life.

A season of forty days.

In the book's second journal entry, A Writer’s Contemplation,

I will share the events that led to these forty days.

These forty days that followed forty years of spiritual restlessness and wandering.

And those forty days were followed by the forty weeks

from where I collected these journals.

When my book is released, I will make it available for free online.

I will also have a link to Amazon if you would like the actual book.

Regardless, if you choose to read through those journal entries,

I hope you recognize your own seasons of change.

I also hope you recognize the fact that

you and I are on a never-ending quest.

We are continually being transformed.

We are continually being renewed.

We are continually in a season of change.

One of my favorite lines in Paul’s letter to the Romans is when he advises his church,

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then he makes a bold statement,

Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For what seemed like forty years,

I felt separated from God.

No matter what I did,

I never felt I could measure up.

I never felt peace.

I never felt worthy of love or grace.

For a very long time,

I waited and wrestled and wandered

in a desert of fear and shame and guilt.

Then, something special happened.

I found a treasure.

I found transformation and renewal

and peace with God.

These forty journals reflect my season of change and renewing.

I hope you too find peace in your time of waiting,

in this story you find yourself in,

this story that continues to unfold, transforming you and renewing you season after season.