Let HIM talk

By Steve Spence

This is part one of a three part series dealing with the personal devotional life of the youth pastor.

There’s a point in ministry when the noise just gets too loud. I’m not just talking about the laughter of students or the energy of a Wednesday night—I mean the inner noise. The hum that never seems to stop. The planning, the pressure, the need to keep producing. It’s that noise that so easily crowds out the voice of God.

For me, I’ve had to learn—slowly and sometimes painfully—how to be still before the Lord. The spiritual discipline of silence and solitude didn’t come naturally. Honestly, it used to make me uncomfortable. Sitting in silence felt unproductive, and solitude felt like a waste of time when there was always something to do. But over the years, I’ve realized that if I don’t make space to listen, I’ll start leading from noise instead of from the voice of God.

Every morning, I try to spend about 30 to 45 minutes in silence before the Lord. No music, no agenda—just quiet. It’s not perfect. Some days my mind runs wild with intrusive thoughts or the list of things I need to do. When that happens, I’ve learned to ask the Holy Spirit to redirect my thoughts—to fill them with truth about who God is, who I am in Him, and what He’s doing in my life and ministry. It’s a daily battle, but one worth fighting.

When I take spiritual retreats, one of my favorite places to practice silence and solitude is in Telluride, Colorado. There’s something about those mountains that recalibrates my soul. And if we ever end up at the beach—Destin, Florida, especially—you’ll probably find me in a chair by the water, just listening to the waves. No headphones. No distractions. Just letting my thoughts settle and my heart rest in His presence. In those moments, I’m reminded that God is speaking; I just need to quiet down long enough to hear Him.

Jesus modeled this rhythm so well. Mark 1:35 says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place; and there He was praying.” Even with crowds waiting and needs pressing, Jesus withdrew to be alone with the Father. He knew that silence and solitude weren’t luxuries—they were necessities.

Psalm 46:10 simply says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” That’s it. Be still. Stop striving. Let Him talk.

I’ve come to believe that silence and solitude aren’t escapes from ministry—they’re what sustain it. They anchor my soul to the One who called me. They remind me that I’m not the center of the story, just a participant in God’s work.

So maybe this week, find your own version of Telluride or Destin. It could be a quiet corner of your house, a park bench, or a drive without the radio. Wherever it is, carve out time to be still. Let your thoughts slow down. Let your heart settle. And let Him talk.

If you’re a youth pastor who feels the noise closing in, I’d love to walk alongside you. Through Fresh Calling, I help leaders rediscover rhythms that renew the heart and sustain the soul. You don’t have to lead from exhaustion. Let’s create space together to hear from the One who called you. Click here to set up a coaching session with Steve. (The first one is free!)