Good day everyone. My name is Brett Andrews and I serve as the Director of People Development for YFC Canada. I’ve been in YFC for 39 years. It is my privilege to share today’s epray with you.

This month we are focusing on the theme of “Rock Steady” as we anticipate our National Ministry Conference at the end of June in beautiful BC. Today, we are focusing on two verses from 1 Peter 1:6 & 7. Let’s take a moment to pause and breathe deeply before I read the passage. If it helps say this breath prayer as you begin breathing in saying “Jesus” and as you breathe out say “you are my hope!” Do this 3x focusing on the one in whom we hope!

I’m reading 1 Peter 1:6 & 7

“⁶ So be truly glad.^[a] There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. ⁷ These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

Every Sunday when I gather with my small church we spend time practicing something called The Sacrament of the Ordinary. We open up space for one another to reflect on where they’ve noticed Holy Spirit at work in the ordinary things of life—sometimes things that are very difficult, sometimes things that are obviously praiseworthy and easy to identify. It gives people time to ponder and as we’ve practiced this people have become much more observant and aware of where God has been at work. I wonder if you took some time today to reflect on your past week, how you would notice and acknowledge the work of Jesus in your life—was it in a scripture you read, a song you sang, a conversation you had, something beautiful your eye beheld. It takes practice to see God’s work around us…especially in times of difficulty or sadness. This practice became very meaningful to me this year as I moved through a scary diagnosis, surgery and recovery of Prostate Cancer.

Let me read this passage again while you close your eyes and listen…“

⁶ So be truly glad.^[a] There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. ⁷ These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

Pause now to consider,

How have you seen or experienced the Holy Spirit at work in your life over this past week or month?

Pause

Is there something that you need to lay before him and ask him to carry for you? What would it look like for God to show you hope in your situation—to give you a resurrection-shaped perspective?

Pause

Is there a young person, colleague, family member or friend who could use some encouragement or someone to be present with them as they look and long for joy?

Pause

Take time today and the rest of this week sitting quietly before God in your favourite spot and ask him to reveal to you how he is at work in your life—pour out your heart to him, ask him to make himself obvious and listen expectantly. Some time ago as I sat grieving with a therapist he asked me if I’d seen any evidence of God at work around me. I told him about some strangely encouraging pieces during a horrible season and then he said to me, “Do you realize you’ve just told me about 11 different ways you’ve seen God at work?” May it be true for you as well!