By Chuck E. Tate

As I parked my car outside the Peoria Civic Center and pushed through the humid air toward the arena, I had no idea that God was about to blow my mind. As team chaplain for the hometown Pirates of the fledgling Indoor Football League, I thought I was there simply to give a pregame chapel talk before the Pirates went to war with the Dayton Skyhawks in the semifinals of the league play-offs. At stake was a berth in the first-ever Gold Cup game. 

FIRST IN A TWO-PART SERIES BY CHUCK E. TATE

I was locked, loaded, and ready to throw down my 10-minute devotional — an inspiring message about the biblical significance of the number 41, which I had originally intended to use as my season-opening chapel talk. In about two hours, it would become crystal clear why I had put it off each week until this soon-to-be-memorable night. 

After the players had gathered, I opened the chapel time with prayer and began to unpack my theme. Perhaps you’ve heard a sermon or two about the significance of the number 40 in the Bible, but this talk was specifically about the number that comes after 40. Here it is in a nutshell: 

After Noah built the ark, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Day 41 came, and the rain stopped.

After Moses committed murder, he hid in the desert for 40 years. Year 41 came, and God gave Moses a second chance—commissioning him to rescue Israel from slavery in Egypt. 

After the Exodus, the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Year 41 came, and a new generation entered the Promised Land. 

For 40 days, Goliath bullied and taunted Israel, just begging for someone to come fight him. Day 41 came, and David stepped up and slew the giant. 

For 40 days, Jonah delivered a message of doom and gloom to the city of Nineveh—that God was going to destroy them because of their wickedness. Day 41 came, and God changed his mind and instead extended mercy because the Ninevites had responded and repented. 

After being baptized in the Jordan River, Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days and was tempted by the devil. Day 41 came, the devil fled, angels showed up, and Jesus launched his monumental ministry. 

The pattern is clear. The number 41 represents the dawn of a new day — the hope and promise that if you don’t quit, the rain will stop, the giant will fall, and you will enter your “promised land.” 

God believes in second chances.

Your fulfilled vision is right around the corner. 

Your 41 will come. 

Now fast-forward to the end of the game. Peoria leads by seven points with less than a minute to play. But then Dayton slices through the Pirates’ defense and scores another touch- down. All they need is the point after to send the game into overtime. 

Extra points in arena football, like extra points in the NFL, are almost automatic. But not this time. To everyone’s surprise, and the home team’s sheer jubilation, Dayton’s kicker did the unthinkable: He missed! 

The stadium was instant bedlam. Our guys had just won a smashmouth arena football game, an intense battle that ushered them into the championship game in their very first season! 

Final score? Peoria 41, Dayton 40.

That’s right: 41 to 40.

Diving over the box seats behind the press table, where I had been sitting, I stormed the field — along with almost everyone in the arena — to join the mayhem and congratulate the players. 

“Forty-one came tonight, man! Great job, baby!” I screamed at every player I encountered. I was so caught up in winning the game and advancing to the championship that I wasn’t even thinking about the score, but only about the breakthrough these guys had achieved after a season of hard work and sacrifice. 

In every case, the response was the same — a long pause as the final score collided with the theme of our pregame chapel talk; a half-cocked, crazy grin, as if to say, “Are you kidding me?!” and then a boisterous series of “woot, woot, woots!” followed by fist bumps and chest bumps. 

Let’s be clear: My short chapel talk was not the reason we won that game. But God used it, in that mysterious way of his, to speak to the players, the coaches, and me. I hope He uses this to speak to you, as well. 

Whether you’re stuck in the storms of life; in serious need of a second chance; stranded in the wilderness of unexpected circumstances or unfulfilled expectations; facing what seems to be an unbeatable giant; or bearing up against unspeakable temptation, I have two words for you: DON’T QUIT! 

As much as you may feel like giving up or giving in, please don’t do it. Don’t go under. Don’t throw in the towel. You can hold on and stay strong. Eventually, the rain will stop, an oasis will appear, grace and mercy will be extended, your giant will fall, and a new day will dawn. Forty-one will come. 

God can use anyone. 

God can use anything.

Even a football game?

Yes.

God’s already moving in your future.

Trust Him. 

Forty-one will come. 

Chuck E. Tate is a pastor, podcaster (Revival Town Podcast), and the author of ‘41 Will Come.’ A portion of this article was used with permission from Tyndale House Publishers.