Seven days…

I have exactly one week until a new year in my life begins.  There is one week left until I turn 40. Ready or not, here IT comes.  I will mask the apprehension of the day with smiles and the gifts of sand and saltwater.

It takes courage to walk into the unknown.  You know what I mean; I know you do.  We have all been there.  It may seem silly to relate the “unknown” to my age.  However, it’s true that we never know what each day will bring, and this overrated number has made me ponder each life situation in a brand new light.

Did I tell you that I went through the process of in vitro fertilization?  Now, THAT was walking through the door of the unknown.  It took a lot of courage.  However, I was armed with prayer and the word of God.  It helped tremendously.  You have to have something in the arsenal to aid in protection against what the unknown might bring.  Intimate conversation with the Creator happens to be my favorite.  Scriptures that I’ve memorized serve as wonderful weapons against scary situations that require courage.  Yet, reciting them aloud as prayers to my Savior is what brings them to life.  My prayer life is what ignites courage.  I don’t know why, but God not only hears all my petitions (No matter how silly they tend to be.  For example, this whole “40” thing) but He actually answers some of them.

We wake up every day to the unknown and usually don’t think much about it.  We arise from bed, carry out our daily activities, and breathe a sigh of relief when we are able to thank God each night that everyone we know and love are warm and safe in their beds.  Even though we don’t give it a lot of thought (Take it from me, it’s good not to over think everything on a regular basis.) I’m glad turning 40 is causing me to deeply consider what is important in life.   I’m thankful for many things.  God was amazingly good to me during my 30s.  I’m choosing to walk through the door into 40 with courage, and I’m expecting great things.

Psalm 27:13

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Today on my “40’s list” is to work on not fearing the unknown so much, but instead, rely on the courage and strength that God will never fail to provide.