What’s So Special About Forty Days? The Biblical Blueprint for the Jesus Challenge
If you’ve seen our 40-day virtual Jesus challenge, you might think, “Huh. Nice round number. Long enough to feel like a real commitment, but short enough to survive.”
But we didn’t randomly pluck this timeline out of a hat. 🎩 It’s actually a biblical, God-ordained pattern.
Throughout the Bible, God intentionally assigns His people 40-day periods. They marked transformation, testing, renewal, and tremendous growth with God.
That's exactly why I built the Jesus challenge over 40 days! Not to sound catchy or trendy, but because it follows the exact same pattern God’s used for thousands of years to strengthen and equip His people. 😍
And those 40-day periods aren't just in old Bible stories. God is STILL using 40 days to change people like you and me, today! He’s creating a worldwide movement through our humble virtual Jesus challenge, drawing Christians into deeper love and intimacy with Himself.
So if you've ever doubted that you could truly hear from God, grow spiritually, or actually change, here's your answer: you can! And you don't have to figure it out alone. 🫶 I want to invite you along with me on this 40-day Jesus challenge to watch God do what He does best - transform your life.
Let’s look at four powerful Bible stories the Jesus challenge mirrors in many ways: Noah, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. I’m excited for you to see the unique and unmatched growth each of these people experience – because that same growth is available to you too! Yeah, these stories could be yours. (Isn’t that crazy to think about? 🤯)
Cleansing and Renewal: Noah’s 40 Days of Rain
For 40 straight days, rain pounds the earth. 🌧️
Not sprinkling.
Not a short afternoon storm.
A relentless, world-changing flood.
And while it seems that God is just destroying the earth and wiping everything out, He’s actually renewing. He washes away the gross corruption among mankind, making space for something fresh, something better.
The flood is restoration – a brand-new beginning. ✨
How the Jesus Challenge Reflects this Story:
I hope you never have to face a literal flood. 🫣
But we all know life is noisy and overwhelming. You’re constantly battling distractions, temptations, and worries. Over time, these cloud up your connection with God and sweep you away in the chaos.
🌱 But what if you could have a fresh start?
🌱 Uncloud your mind?
🌱 Rewrite the hectic pattern of your days?
Just like God used the flood to clear away corruption and start fresh, the Jesus Challenge washes away all the unnecessary noise taking up space in your life. 🌊 It replaces those distractions with clarity, truth, and purpose. It helps you release the habits holding you back and frees up your heart and mind to focus on Jesus.
So if you’ve been longing for a spiritual reset, this is it!
Forty days.
A fresh start.
A chance to realign your life with Jesus and build an unshakeable faith.
Deep Communion: Moses’ 40 Days on Mount Sinai
Moses climbs Mount Sinai alone, and for 40 days, he’s in God’s presence.
No distractions.
Nothing is demanded of him.
No phone notifications.
No needs.
Just Moses and God – listening, learning, and relishing their time together.
What a dream… 🥹
Can you even imagine what that must have felt like? To be that close to God, fully content and accepted in His presence, hearing directly from Him?
If you’ve spent any time in solitude, taken a day without your phone, or spent time in nature, you know how precious and intimate that experience with God is. He fills your whole world, and you feel like you’re finally alive – in the way God always intended! You’d give anything to feel that again, but the craziness of life keeps that wonderful haven just out of reach. 😩
But Moses didn’t stumble into that intimacy with God by chance. He went up the mountain. He made the intentional choice to step AWAY from everything else, all the people who needed him, all the problems going on back at camp, and went to meet with God. And in return, God was WITH him, revealing truths that would reshape history.
How the Jesus Challenge Reflects This Story:
I know you might be thinking, “That’s great for Moses, but I don’t really have the time or energy to go climb mountains to hear God’s voice.” 🥵
I hear you! And that’s the struggle for most of us. We want to hear from God, but our days are packed from the moment our eyes pop open to the moment they close in exhaustion. Work, family, friends, school events, fundraisers, always running from one thing to the next. And in the quiet moments, we’re usually found scrolling Instagram in the car or catching up on texts.
It’s no wonder we struggle to feel close to Him! Our lives, full of GOOD things, have left no room for Him. 😔
👉 But what if you set aside 40 days to do things a little differently?
The Jesus challenge creates space, just like Moses did, to hear from God. It gives you a sacred time each day to be intentional in listening, studying, and hearing from God personally.
God wants to speak to you! He’s not distant. He’s not silent. But we have to slow down long enough to hear Him.
What if this is your Mount Sinai moment? What if you gave yourself 40 days to press into God’s presence for 20 minutes a day?
When you make space for God, you’ll be surprised to find He’s already there, waiting for you to show up, eager to reveal Himself to you. 😍
Strength in Weakness: Elijah’s 40-Day Journey
Let’s talk about Elijah. This man is a powerhouse prophet – calling down fire from heaven, standing up to wicked rules, doing the big faith things. 😮💨
But even this great man hits a breaking point.
In 1 Kings 19, we find him exhausted, discouraged, and just plain DONE.
He’s running for his life, physically drained, mentally exhausted, and spiritually empty.
He doesn’t feel strong.
He doesn’t feel capable.
He just wants to quit.
(Sound familiar…?) 🫣
But God isn’t done with Elijah.
Instead of scolding him for being weak, God sustains Elijah. He provides food, rest, and strength for the journey ahead. And for 40 days, Elijah walks to Mount Horeb, not by his own strength, but with God's. And when he finally gets there, he doesn’t find God’s voice in the loud wind, the big earthquake, or the roaring fire. He finds Him in the gentle whisper.
How the Jesus Challenge Reflects This Story:
If you're honest, you’ve probably felt like Elijah at some point in your life. We all have.
🚨Spiritually drained.
🚨Unmotivated.
🚨Lost.
Maybe you're looking at this Jesus virtual challenge and thinking, "I don't know if I have the energy for this. What if I don't have enough faith or stamina?”
I've got good news for you friend: that is okay! Because these 40 days aren’t for you to muster up your own strength. They’re not supposed to “fix you” or prove how spiritual you can be. This is a chance to let God sustain you in your weakness. And He WILL NOT fail you! 🥳
Just like Elijah, you don't have to feel “ready” to obey God’s voice. You just have to take the first step. And when you step out in obedience, God will meet you there – strengthening you, guiding you, and speaking to you in ways you never expected.
So if you're feeling weak, weary, or unsure – be encouraged. You're exactly where God can do his very best work! 🤗
Preparation for What’s Ahead: Jesus’ 40 Days in the Wilderness
Before Jesus launches into his world-changing ministry, before the miracles, before the crowds, and before the teachings, He goes into the wilderness. For 40 days.
No food. No distractions. Just Him, the Father, and a relentless enemy trying to throw Jesus off course.
Why does He do this? Because He’s preparing for something bigger.
Jesus doesn’t rush into ministry or “wing it.” He takes time to be with His Father, to pray, fast, and strengthen himself spiritually. He faces temptation head-on and walks out of that wilderness stronger than ever, ready to fulfill everything God had called Him to. 💪
But what if He hadn’t?
What if He’d skipped that painful wilderness trial?
What if He’d been too busy or distracted with ministry and good things?
What if He never made space to be strengthened in truth?
Yes, He would still have been the Son of God. But would He have been ready to handle the heavy trials of His ministry with grace and truth?
Probably not.
How the Jesus Challenge Reflects This Story:
Neither you nor I know what’s coming next in our lives. But God does.
And He has more for you. Whatever state you’re living in now, even if it’s good, God always has MORE for His children. 😍
🌱 A deeper love relationship with Him.
🌱 More purpose.
🌱 A stronger faith.
🌱 A more sanctified life.
🌱 Joy beyond words.
⚠️ But if you don’t intentionally make space for God, you WILL miss it.
And so many of us do every day, myself included. We settle for surface-level faith, staying stuck in the same old patterns, wondering why we don’t feel closer to God.
That’s why these 40 days make such a huge difference.
The Jesus challenge gives you a chance to step into the abundant life God designed for you. To stop living empty and live spiritually empowered! To actually experience the “Is there more than this?” question you’ve secretly wondered.
God is not holding us back.
Our distractions are.
Our busyness is.
Our lack of intentional time with Him is.
If Jesus – who is fully God – didn’t skimp out on time with the Father, why on earth would we? 🤔
Why All 40 Days of the Jesus Challenge Matter
Something new is super exciting! The first days of any challenge you feel fresh and energized. 🤩
But then it gets hard. You start noticing how tired and busy you are. You don’t feel different, so you wonder if it’s “working.”
The enemy loves to whisper to us at that moment, “Just quit. You’re wasting your time.” (Because he KNOWS what will happen if it sticks! 👀)
Breakthroughs rarely happen overnight. Transformation takes time! That’s why God’s pattern is 40 days – not four, not ten. His purpose in this testing time is not a quick-fix, clickbaity Get-Ripped-In-3-Days trend. He’s fully rewiring your heart to align with His own, making your faith unshakeable in the face of real-life suffering.
What Will Your Story Be?
Every time God called someone into a period of trial, the huge significance of their lesson showed up AFTER the 40 days.
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After 40 days, Noah stepped into a brand-new world.
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After 40 days, Moses walked down the mountain carrying the Word of God.
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After 40 days, Elijah was strengthened to complete his mission.
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After 40 days, Jesus launched His world-changing ministry.
What about your story? 🤔
What will it say 40 days from now?
Will you be the same as you are today?
I can guarantee you that by the end of 40 days – studying God’s work and moving your body – you will NOT be the same person who started this challenge.
🔥You will hear God’s voice more clearly.
🔥Your mind will be focused on Him, less distracted by the noise around you.
🔥You’ll face challenges with grace and peace.
🔥Your heart will feel lighter and more joyful.
🔥You’ll be intimately in tune with God’s heart.
But that only happens when you commit to it.
So when the enemy tells you to quit, when your motivation fades, when life gets busy – push through. Lean on these Bible stories for courage. Because the intimacy with Jesus awaiting you after this virtual Jesus challenge is worth it all! 👏
Your 40-Day Jesus Challenge Awaits
Friend, God is calling you into a deeper relationship with Himself. He’s been using 40 days to change lives for thousands of years, and now, He’s offering you the same opportunity that He gave Noah, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus.
If you’re ready to clear your head of distractions, hear God’s voice, and step into His calling on your life, this Jesus virtual challenge is for you.
If you sense your heart saying, “Yes,” don't wait! Sign up for my next virtual Jesus challenge below and take that first step toward a deep friendship with God.
40 days from now, you’ll be SO thankful you did! 🥹