Finish Well. Start Fresh.
by Steve Spence
Let’s be honest—coming to the end of the calendar year feels great. There’s a real sense of accomplishment. We made it. Another year in the books. And yes, it deserves celebration. But if you’re in ministry, you know that feeling doesn’t last long. January comes fast, full of events, planning, and the pressure to hit the ground running. The celebration window is short.
So how do we honor the year we just lived and still walk into a new one without ministry fatigue?
For me, it starts with celebrating the right wins. Not the stats. Not the attendance spikes. Not the big nights that look great in photos but don’t always reflect real spiritual formation. I celebrate the stories.
I think of the student who fell in love with Jesus for the first time. The one who started reading their Bible on their own because the Spirit stirred something new in them. The one who let go of a destructive habit and took a step toward Christ. Those aren’t numbers—they’re eternal victories.
I think of the adult leader who stepped up in a way I didn’t expect. The one who took ownership of their small group, followed up with students, discipled faithfully, prayed consistently, and grew in their own walk. That’s the kind of win worth carrying into a new year.
And then there’s baptism—the clearest picture of life change we get as youth pastors. When I look back and remember each face, each story, each moment of bold obedience, I’m reminded that God is at work even when I’m tired or discouraged.
I’ve learned to journal these stories before the year closes. Writing them down opens my heart to gratitude and recalibrates my perspective. It’s too easy to focus on what didn’t happen, what fell short, or what still needs fixing. Gratitude reminds me that God has been faithful, and I’m just a participant in His work.
Another practice that’s helped me finish well is taking time to Sabbath. Not a day off filled with errands, but intentional rest. A couple of days away from the pace and pressure of ministry. Doing something that brings life back into my soul. Spending unhurried time with my family or my spouse. Making space to breathe again.
During these days, I slow down in my quiet time. I listen more. I journal what I sense the Holy Spirit is speaking into the next season—what’s true about God, what’s true about me, and what’s true about the ministry He’s entrusted to me. I always walk away more grounded than when I started.
Finishing the year strong isn’t about squeezing out one more task or sprinting toward January. It’s about reflection, gratitude, rest, and spiritual clarity. When I honor the year behind me, I’m healthier walking into the year in front of me.
If you’re reading this and feeling the weight of the year—or the pressure of what’s coming next—I’d love to walk with you. You can connect with me at freshcalling.org, and if you want to take a next step, your first coaching session is free. Ministry doesn’t have to feel isolating. Let’s step into the new year grounded, encouraged, and ready.
Would you help me out by sharing this blog post with someone else? I appreciate your willingness to help spread the word about Fresh Calling. It means a lot when you “like, share and subscribe.”
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Have a Plan
by Steve Spence
This is part three in our series dealing with the devotional life of the youth pastor.
There’s something I’ve learned over the years about my walk with Jesus: if I don’t plan it, it probably won’t happen. I don’t drift into spiritual health. I don’t accidentally fall into the Word. And I’m guessing you don’t either. Ministry is loud. Student ministry is really loud. If we aren’t intentional about carving out a moment—just one planned, protected moment—to be in God’s Word every single day, that moment will get swallowed up by the chaos around us.
So here’s point number one: Have a plan each day.
I’ve talked to so many youth pastors who love Jesus dearly but feel spiritually dry, scattered, or inconsistent. And when we peel back the layers, most of the time there’s simply no daily plan. Not because they don’t care. Not because they’re lazy. But because they’re getting jumped by the day instead of stepping into the day with direction.
For me, planning my daily time with the Lord is as non-negotiable as brushing my teeth. I know that sounds simple, but it’s been a game changer. I look at my day and decide when I’m meeting with Him—before the kids wake up, before emails, before the “urgent” squeezes out the “important.” And once that time is set, I protect it like it’s oxygen. Because honestly, it is.
But having a planned time isn’t enough. You also need a planned approach.
A lot of youth pastors ask me, “Steve, what do you actually do during your quiet time?” And my answer always starts here: Have a plan for what you’re reading. Not a random verse of the day. Not flipping to the same encouraging passages over and over. Not just camping out in the New Testament because it feels easier. No—have a plan that gets you into the whole counsel of God.
Every year—yes, every single year—I read through the entire Bible. I’m not saying that to give myself a gold star. I’m saying it because it’s changed me. It’s anchored me. It’s strengthened me in ways I didn’t even know I needed. I switch between the Chronological Bible reading plan and the One Year Bible reading plan. Both are fantastic. Both keep me rooted in Scripture beyond just the parts I naturally gravitate toward.
A reading plan gives you structure. It keeps you moving. It helps you see the story of God unfold—not just a verse here or there, but the full narrative of His faithfulness from Genesis to Revelation. And when you build your devotional life around the full story of Scripture, your soul starts receiving the nutrients it’s been craving.
And let me be clear about something that trips up a lot of youth pastors: your devotional time is not your sermon prep time.
You need both.
They aren’t the same.
Sermon prep is ministry work. Your devotional time is ministry life. One feeds others. The other feeds you. Don’t confuse the two or you’ll dry up faster than you think. Your daily devotional time is simply your planned connection with God. Not for content. Not for students. Not for Sunday. For you and Him.
So here’s my encouragement: if you want to grow in your own walk, if you want to be spiritually steady, if you want to lead students from a place of overflow rather than exhaustion—make a plan. A plan for your day, and a plan for the Word.
Because you can’t be spiritually healthy accidentally.
You’re too called for that.
Your students need more than a spiritually malnourished leader.
And God is ready to meet you—every day—if you’ll plan to meet with Him.
Let’s be youth pastors who don’t just talk about devotion…
Let’s plan for it.
And then live it.
If you’re a youth pastor who’s struggling to build consistency in your devotional life—or you just need someone in your corner cheering you on—I’d love to walk with you. Through Fresh Calling, I help youth pastors develop rhythms, clarity, and confidence in their daily walk with Jesus and their ministry leadership.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
If you want to talk, process, or take the next step, reach out through FreshCalling.org/coaching. I’d be honored to connect.
Write It Out
by Steve Spence
This is part two in a three part series in dealing with the personal devotional life of the youth pastor.
Journaling has become one of the most grounding parts of my quiet time with the Lord. It didn’t start that way. In fact, for a long time I resisted it. I didn’t want to feel like I was keeping a diary or trying to write something that sounded “spiritual.” But over time, I realized that journaling isn’t about creating a record for others to read—it’s about creating space for God to speak and for me to process what He’s already doing in my heart.
Most of us in ministry spend a lot of time talking—teaching, counseling, leading meetings, or planning events. We’re used to putting words out into the world. But writing things down is different. It slows you down. It forces you to think, to reflect, to actually notice what’s happening beneath the surface. That’s where journaling has become such a valuable rhythm for me. It gives shape to the quiet moments with God that I might otherwise rush through or forget.
When I sit down in the morning with my coffee and Bible, I open my journal right beside it. I don’t worry about having perfect handwriting or polished thoughts. I simply start writing what’s on my heart—sometimes it’s a prayer, sometimes it’s a reflection from what I just read, and sometimes it’s just a list of what’s weighing on me that day. There’s something freeing about putting thoughts on paper. It helps me see what’s been lingering in the background of my mind, especially the emotions and questions I might not have noticed in the busyness of ministry.
Here’s what I’ve learned: journaling doesn’t have to be formal. You don’t need a structure or a clever system. You don’t even have to write in full sentences. Some days I jot down a few bullet points or short prayers. Other days I fill pages. What matters isn’t how it looks—it’s that you’re honest. Think of it as writing to God. You’re letting Him into your thought process, not cleaning it up for presentation.
Another thing I’d say is—get a good journal. Not a yellow legal pad. Something that feels personal and lasting. There’s something about the physical act of opening a journal, seeing where you’ve been, and noticing what God’s been teaching you over time. I can flip back through mine and see answered prayers, recurring themes, or even seasons where I was struggling more than I realized. That perspective helps me stay grounded and grateful.
Journaling has also become one of the healthiest ways I process what I experience in ministry. When you carry the weight of people’s stories, disappointments, or even your own discouragement, those things need a place to go. Writing them out before the Lord helps me surrender them instead of carrying them silently. It’s like exhaling the things that have built up inside and making room for His peace to fill that space.
If you’re hesitant to start, just begin small. A few lines each morning or at the end of the day. Write about what made you thankful, what made you anxious, or what you sensed God saying. Over time, you’ll find your rhythm.
For me, journaling has become more than a habit—it’s a form of prayer. It’s where I talk honestly with God and where He often reminds me of who He is and what He’s doing. So grab a journal, open it up, and write it out. You might be surprised at how much healing and clarity flows from putting pen to paper in the presence of the Lord.
I’d love to hear how journaling has shaped your walk with God or helped you process ministry life. What rhythms or practices have been meaningful for you lately? Comment below or connect with me through freshcalling.org—I always enjoy hearing from other leaders walking this same road. Let’s keep growing and learning together.
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!)
Ministering Through a Tough Season
by Steve Spence
Every pastor faces seasons that feel heavy—when the excitement has faded, energy is low, and ministry feels more like endurance than joy. Sometimes it’s because of disappointment, conflict, burnout, or simply the weight of unmet expectations. Ministry doesn’t always go the way we hoped or prayed it would, and when things get tough, it’s easy to wonder if we’re doing something wrong or if we’re even making a difference.
Psalm 42:11 (CSB) says, “Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.”
Even the psalmist felt the weight of discouragement but refused to let it define his faith. Seasons of struggle are not signs of failure—they are invitations to press deeper into dependence on God.
When I find myself walking through a tough season, I’ve learned a few simple but necessary steps that help me stay grounded:
First, I spend intentional time with the Lord to keep my emotions in check. When my heart feels restless, I don’t rush past it—I bring it to Him. Prayer in those moments becomes less about fixing the situation and more about letting God realign my heart with His peace.
Second, I seek an outside perspective. Sometimes it takes another set of eyes to help you see clearly when the fog of ministry sets in. Proverbs 19:20 says, “Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life.”Wise counsel brings clarity and stability when emotions try to take over.
Finally, I do what I can to stop writing stories in my head about the situation. It’s easy to assume motives, fill in blanks, and create narratives that may not be true. The enemy loves to amplify those lies in seasons of weakness. Romans 12:18reminds us, “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Sometimes that means choosing grace over assumptions and peace over reaction.
But here’s what I’ve had to learn the hard way: a tough season doesn’t mean you’re done. Most of us don’t respond well to hard things—especially in ministry. When the pressure builds and the results don’t show, discouragement can quietly grow into depression, anxiety, or a paralyzing fear of failure. Those moments can feel like pits that swallow your joy and passion. That’s why awareness matters. If you sense that happening, it’s okay to slow down, talk to someone, or take a break. You’re not weak for needing rest—you’re wise for recognizing it. God still has purpose for you, even in the hard places.
Every pastor will face tough seasons—it’s part of leading and loving people in a broken world. But those seasons don’t define your calling; they refine it. They strip away self-reliance and remind us that ministry has always been about Him, not us.
When ministry feels heavy, remember—your worth isn’t tied to outcomes, attendance, or approval. It’s anchored in the One who called you and promised to finish the work He began in you.
If you’re walking through a tough season and need someone to talk with about it, I’d love to connect. Click the link to set up a one-on-one coaching session. Sometimes all it takes is a conversation to help you find clarity, perspective, and hope again.
Husband, Dad, Youth Pastor, Writer
Fresh Calling: Ministry Coaching and Consulting 
Recent Comments