Some healings in  Christian Science are quick, even instantaneous. Others aren’t, and this can sometimes lead to doubt, frustration, or discouragement until persistent prayer reveals the way forward. 

I gained some insight into this when I found myself experiencing chronic soreness in both feet. There were periods of relief, but despite my prayers, the problem continued for some weeks, and I began asking myself, “How long will this healing take?” As I continued to pray, a surprising answer suddenly came to me: “Forty days!”

I remembered that in the Bible, “forty days” appears to hold a special significance. For instance, Moses remained on Mount Sinai for forty days when he received the Ten Commandments. Elijah stayed in the wilderness forty days after fleeing from Jezebel’s assassins. Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil, and during the forty days between his resurrection and ascension, he appeared to his followers several times. It would seem that in the context of these and other biblical examples, “forty days” means something beyond the literal. Many students of the Bible believe it indicates a period of spiritual growth or transformation.