40 Days

First off, the amazing news!

Another echocardiogram was done within the first few hours of Ronin’s birth. A cardiologist spoke with us yesterday, and now their team is confident that Ronin’s heart issues can be corrected with surgery! This was such a change from the last cardiologist’s review of the May 30 echo. Thanks be to God! We are so relieved!

“40 days” in the Bible, 40 days in Antepartum

Ronin was born on my 40th day at the hospital. I was able to spend those 40 days in the Word, growing closer to the Lord. During this time it was revealed to me that when the Bible mentions “40 days,” something challenging that leads to spiritual growth is taking place.

Here are some examples:

• Noah’s Ark, displaying God’s mercy on faithful people (Genesis 7:12)
• Moses receiving the Ten Commandments during his encounter with God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28)
• The prophet Elijah on a spiritual journey to Horeb (1 Kings 19:8)
• Goliath threatening the Israelites for 40 days before being defeated by David (1 Samuel 17:16)
• Jonah’s prophecy warning the people of Nineveh to repent of their sins (Jonah 3:4)
• Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan before he began His public ministry (Mark 1:13)
• Jesus’ 40 days after His Resurrection and before His Ascension into heaven (Acts 1:3)
  

  A good friend sent me this beautiful artwork the day before Ronin was born. While I was having the c-section, this image helped remind me to focus on Christ and not the storm.

According to this article on crosswalk.com, “the significance of 40 days in the Bible is that God allows us to go through challenges in order to grow spiritually. The 40-day time period highlights the importance of strengthening our faith by relying on God’s help in challenging circumstances. Also, 40 days highlights God’s patience with us. By using that generous amount of time to symbolize a period of spiritual growth in the Bible, God is sending a message that growing spiritually is a process that takes time to complete. God is always at work in our lives, but 40 days symbolizes special times when God asks us to focus on moving closer to Him.”

A faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted

My 40 days at the hospital were more like 40 days in spiritual boot camp. I’ve never been in such a vulnerable situation, and I never would have asked to be put in this place – but I know now how much it’s benefitted me.

Tomorrow I will be able to leave the hospital! I’ll be commuting daily to visit little Ronin in the NICU. (He’s been doing great, btw!)

My faith has grown exponentially in my time here at the hospital. God is perfect in every way, and His power is made perfect in my weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9). It’s only by His strength that carried me through the days leading up to Ronin’s birth until now. This has been a life-altering experience that I’ll never forget, and I will continue to praise the Lord in all the days ahead.