For forty days, relentless rain poured down, flooding the land and causing the ark to rise above the ground. The number forty in Hebrew (arba'im) is often symbolic, representing a period of testing, transformation, or preparation. This verse pushes back against the belief that change is always gradual or gentle; sometimes, transformation is sudden and overwhelming. For anyone whose life feels like it’s been turned upside down, this is a reminder that upheaval can be part of a bigger story—even if you can’t see the outcome yet. Sometimes, you just have to ride out the storm and trust that you’ll land somewhere new.