{"id":2639,"date":"2026-11-02T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/?p=2639"},"modified":"2026-10-26T13:41:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T17:41:18","slug":"epray-ep-78-lectio-divina-rooted-in-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/2026\/11\/02\/epray-ep-78-lectio-divina-rooted-in-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"ePray | Ep. 78 Lectio Divina: Rooted in Hope"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/a>\n\n\n\r\n
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ePray | Lectio Divina: Ep. 78 Rooted in Hope<\/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 78| November 2, 2026
\nLectio Divina: Rooted in Hope<\/strong>
\nWith Marcy Amendt – Youth Unlimited Montreal<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Lectio Divina: Rooted in Hope
\nDate: November 2, 2026
\nScripture: Romans 15:13<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marcy Amendt<\/b><\/p>\n

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

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Hello, and welcome.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our theme for November is <\/span>Rooted in Hope<\/span><\/i>, and today we’re reflecting on Romans 15:13. I’d like to invite you to slow down for a few moments. Whatever your day has held so far, take a breath and allow yourself to be here.<\/span><\/p>\n

As people who work with young people, we spend a lot of time thinking about the future. We hope for them, pray for them, and often carry their stories with us long after our time together has ended. But today, let’s begin a little closer to home: <\/span>What does it mean for us to be rooted in hope?<\/b><\/p>\n

Let’s take a moment to become still before God.<\/span><\/p>\n

God, quiet the noise around us and within us. Help us set aside our responsibilities for a few moments and simply be with you. Open our hearts to your presence and your Word. Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n

I’m going to read Romans 15:13. As you listen, simply notice what stands out to you.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMay the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I find it interesting that Paul calls God the God of hope. He doesn’t tell us to be more hopeful or simply look on the bright side. He brings our attention back to God.<\/span><\/p>\n

In ministry, we encounter situations we cannot fix and invest in relationships without knowing the outcome. Sometimes we see growth, and sometimes we have to trust that even the small things we do matter.<\/span><\/p>\n

This verse reminds us that hope isn’t something we must produce through our own efforts. God invites us to trust him and receive the joy and peace his Spirit provides. Being rooted in hope doesn’t mean we always feel hopeful. It means that when our feelings change and circumstances are uncertain, we have somewhere to turn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where are you finding it difficult to hope right now?<\/b> Is there something in your life or ministry you’ve been carrying for a while?<\/span><\/p>\n

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

What might it look like to trust God with what you cannot see or control?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

God, thank you that our hope rests in who you are, not in our ability to figure everything out. Meet us in our uncertainty and weariness. Help us receive your joy and peace and trust you again today. Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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

Let’s return to this passage and think about the young people we serve.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the gifts of working with young people is seeing glimpses of who they are becoming. Sometimes we see their creativity, kindness, courage, or potential even when they cannot see it themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

A young person’s present circumstances don’t tell us everything about their future. A difficult season, a mistake, or a struggle at home doesn’t define the whole of who they are.<\/span><\/p>\n

We don’t know what the future holds, but we can meet young people with openness and remain attentive to what God might be doing in their lives. Hope becomes tangible through the steady presence of someone who listens, cares, makes room for growth, and doesn’t give up when the road is difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our patience has limits, and we don’t always know what to say or do. But we can pray and ask the God of hope to work in their lives and help us remain faithful as we walk alongside them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s hear Romans 15:13 once more.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMay the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Bring to mind one young person who has been on your heart recently. Perhaps they’re struggling, facing an uncertain future, or needing encouragement to see what might be possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

What might this young person need right now? What would you like to entrust to God on their behalf?<\/b><\/p>\n

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

Consider your place in this young person’s story. Is there something you could offer through your presence, listening, or encouragement?<\/strong> Ask God to show you what faithfulness might look like in this relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

God of hope, we bring the young people in our communities before you. You know their struggles, gifts, questions, and possibilities. Surround them with people who see them with compassion and make room for them to grow. Where they feel discouraged, bring encouragement; where they feel alone, bring connection; and where they struggle to imagine a different future, open new possibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Give us wisdom when we don’t know what to say, humility when we don’t understand, and perseverance when change takes time. When we become discouraged, remind us that we are not working alone. Help us trust that you are present in the lives of the young people we serve, even when we cannot see the full picture.<\/span><\/p>\n

May your Spirit bring joy and peace into their lives, and may they discover the hope that comes from knowing you. Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n

As you return to your day, remember: <\/span>hope doesn’t require us to know how the story ends.<\/b><\/p>\n

We can be present to the person in front of us, remain open to what God might be doing, and keep showing up when the next step isn’t clear. We do this by returning again and again to the God of hope, who sustains us and gives us what we need for the work ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Part 2: Closing Prayer<\/b><\/p>\n

We end with the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I am no longer my own, but yours.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Put me to doing, put me to suffering.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you, praised for you or criticized for you.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Let me be full, let me be empty.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Let me have all things, let me have nothing.<\/span>
\n<\/span>I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service.<\/span>
\n<\/span>And now, O wonderful and holy God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, you are mine, and I am yours.<\/span>
\n<\/span>So be it.<\/span>
\n<\/span>And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it also be made in heaven.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Amen.<\/span><\/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\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 November is Rooted in Hope. In this fall season may this guided prayer help you find ways to be rooted in hope…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":2642,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[106,110,120,134],"class_list":["post-2639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-epray","tag-hope","tag-november","tag-rooted","tag-rooted-in-hope"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2639","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=2639"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2639\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2643,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2639\/revisions\/2643"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yfc.ca\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}