{"id":2454,"date":"2026-02-09T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/?p=2454"},"modified":"2026-02-04T16:48:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T21:48:47","slug":"epray-ep-40-lectio-divina-resilience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/2026\/02\/09\/epray-ep-40-lectio-divina-resilience\/","title":{"rendered":"ePray | Ep. 40 Lectio Divina: Resilience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/a>\n\n\n\r\n
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ePray | Lectio Divina: Ep. 40 Resilience<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Listen to the episode here, or read the transcript below – and don’t forget to tune in weekly!<\/p>\n

ePray | Episode 40| February 9, 2026
\nLectio Divina: Resilience<\/strong>
\nWith Naomi Van De Visch – Youth for Christ Canada<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tReturn to ePray<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead Transcript<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t
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Lectio Divina: Resilience
\nDate: February 9, 2026
\nScripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9<\/strong><\/p>\n

Naomi Van De Visch<\/b><\/p>\n

Part 1: Inward Focus<\/strong><\/p>\n

Welcome. Our theme for this month is Resilience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As we enter this time of prayer, let\u2019s take a moment to breathe and rest in the presence of our loving Father.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, we\u2019ll be reading from 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 from the NIV.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In New Testament times, treasures were concealed in jars of clay, which had little value or beauty. In the same way, Paul described the apostles as jars of clay hiding the glory of God. My study Bible describes it this way: \u201cThe absolute insufficiency of human beings reveals the total sufficiency of God.\u201d In light of the \u201call-surpassing power\u201d of God at work in him, Paul wrote the words that we will be reflecting on this morning, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9:<\/span><\/p>\n

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;<\/span> persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jonathan Haidt, in his book \u201cThe Anxious Generation,\u201d writes about an experiment that was launched in the Arizona desert in the 80s to create a biosphere. One thing they learned from this experiment was that \u201cmany of the trees planted to create a rainforest ecosystem grew rapidly but then toppled before reaching maturity. The designers had not realized that young trees need wind to grow properly. When the wind blows, it bends the tree, tugging at the roots on the windward side and compressing the wood on the other side. In response, the root system expands to provide a firmer anchor where needed, and the compressed wood cells strengthen the structure.\u201d (p. 77)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In what ways are you feeling pressed or battered by troubles? How have you seen God demonstrate His \u201call-surpassing power\u201d in the midst of these circumstances? How have you experienced spiritual growth because of these difficulties?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pause<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Let me read again, 2 Corinthians 4:7-8<\/span><\/p>\n

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;<\/span> persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe word for ‘perplexed’ in the original language simply means to be ‘confused,\u2019 \u2018uncertain,\u2019 or \u2018in doubt.\u2019\u201d (<\/span>gotquestions.org<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

In this passage, Paul is using a bit of word play. In the original language, \u201cdespair\u201d is the same word translated as \u201cperplexed,\u201d except with the prefix \u2018ex-\u2019 added. This prefix emphasizes the original word to its fullest extent. It could be translated to say, we are \u201cperplexed\u201d but not \u201ctotally perplexed.\u201d Paul is saying that he has experienced confusion and doubt, but God has never allowed it to overwhelm him. (<\/span>gotquestions.org<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

How are you experiencing confusion or doubt? How has God kept you from being overwhelmed by those doubts? How has he kept you from despair?<\/span><\/p>\n

Pause<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

These feelings of uncertainty are normal. Like Paul, we can take comfort in the fact that God is in control. We can be \u201cperplexed, but not in despair,\u201d because we \u201cfix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal\u201d (2 Corinthians 4:18).<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 2: Outward Focus<\/b><\/p>\n

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As I read this passage again, can you think of a young person in your life who needs to hear this word? Someone who especially needs to know that God is with them in the midst of their doubt and troubles?<\/span><\/p>\n

2 Corinthians 4:8-9:<\/span><\/p>\n

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;<\/span> persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is there a young person or someone in your life who is feeling pressed or battered by troubles? Pray that they will see God\u2019s \u201call-surpassing power\u201d at work in these situations. Pray that they would not be crushed but would be strengthened.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pause<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Is there someone in your life who is experiencing doubt and confusion? Pray for them right now. Pray that they will fix their eyes on what is eternal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pause<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Part 3: Closing Prayer<\/b><\/p>\n

We will close with an ancient prayer for God\u2019s peace and protection as we entrust ourselves into his care.<\/p>\n

O God,<\/p>\n

From whom all holy desires, all good counsel,<\/p>\n

And all just works do proceed;<\/p>\n

Give to your servants that peace<\/p>\n

Which the world cannot give;<\/p>\n

That our hearts may be set to obey your will;<\/p>\n

And that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies,<\/p>\n

May pass our time in rest and quietness;<\/p>\n

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.<\/p>\n

Amen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\n\n

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Return to ePray<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Listen to this episode<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome. Our theme for February is Resilience. Allow God to speak to you through this guided prayer…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":2453,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[115,116],"class_list":["post-2454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-epray","tag-february","tag-resilience"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/96"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2454"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2454\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}