From Adam Sharp, Youth Pastor Crystal Valley Missionary Church

How to Handle A Frustrating Youth Night

How many of us have ever been done with youth group, the last student is gone, and it's just you and an empty building? As you finish cleaning up, your mind starts going back over the night. You remember that the video didn't start when you wanted it to, and right when you were making a big announcement, the junior high kid knocked over a chair and everyone laughed and you lost their attention. And then when you were making your big point at the end of the night you see a bunch of kids on their cell phones texting. Then it sets in ...FRUSTRATION!

We have all been there before. If any youth pastor says they have always had great nights with their youth, they are either lying or they need to write a book. These are the times when it can break a youth pastor down to their core. I know I have been there before ...questioning if I should even be doing youth ministry or if I should just go get a normal job and quit worrying about students all the time. Here are some things that I try to remember when these moments set in.

1. Take inventory of what went right that night. I know that this might be hard, but even coming up with the fact that students came to youth group that night is a win, because you obviously have done something to make them want to come or you have parents that love them enough and think that you are doing something worth sending their student to. Make a checklist of tings that did go well that night and dwell on those instead of the things that went wrong.
2. Ask God what you need to learn from this. I know for me, when there have been nights that have gone crazy, sometimes God is wanting to teach me that I can't do it without Him. Then when I look back on the week leading up to that night I realize I didn't spend time with Him at all, or I didn't read my Bible unless I was researching something. God sometimes has to knock us to our core to make us realize that we need Him way more than we think we do. Take time to ask God what you might need to take away from a night like this. Ask yourself some hard questions like, "Why am I so upset at that student?" or "Why am I upset that God didn't work in the ways I wanted Him to?" When we look in the mirror, God might be calling us to some change in our relationship with Him so we can be more effective with our students.
3. Don't let Satan get a foothold. The enemy knows exactly what to do to get you going, and if he has to attack you at your youth ministry, he will. Don't allow yourself to fall into that trap. We have to understand that the schemes of the enemy will attack us anywhere and everywhere. We have to be there with people around us to support us, and we have to be willing to get on our knees and cry out to God when we feel these frustrations welling up inside of us. Don't allow the enemy to work you over with self doubt and self loathing. Regardless of how horribly youth group went, you are still created in God's image and He has a plan to prosper you and bless you beyond what you could ever imagine possible.

These are just three things that I know I go through. What are some things you do when you have a frustrating night at youth group? Comment below so we can help each other!