Weekly Email: December 1, 2025

Dec 1

I hope you had a wonderful holiday. Mine was filled with family, food, games, snow, and even a power outage. Thankfully the snow did not affect the drive home, and the outage did not disrupt things too much. A few games my family enjoyed this weekend was The Game, Decrypto, and Wavelength.

Today is the first day of the winter term. Whether you are starting your next class or taking a break this term, this week’s email is about motivation, your identity in Christ, and remembering why you are here in the first place.

I always enjoy hearing from you. Let me know how your break went, if you have (or want) any game recommendations, or just how you are feeling about the winter term.

In this week’s email:

Student Tip: Unmotivated after the break? That's normal.
Program News: Learn more about the Career Development Center

Student Tip: Unmotivated?

Coming back from a holiday or an extended break can be a mixed experience. You might be returning energized, ready to tackle a new course you have been looking forward to with a clear plan in mind. Or you might be wishing for a few more days of rest, feeling unmotivated and unsure of where to begin. If you are reading this, you almost certainly fall somewhere on that spectrum, and all of it is completely normal.

Embracing Where You Are

However your break went, restful, stressful, or somewhere in between, I want you to start by being honest about where you are. Do not be hard on yourself if motivation is low. Weariness after a break is common, especially if the term has been heavy and the time off felt like a needed release.

Motivation often follows action, not the other way around. If schoolwork is not at the top of your priority list right now, pick one simple thing. Save or print your syllabus. Put it on your desk. Plan to read through it tomorrow. A small step today can make Tuesday feel more manageable.

If you are not enrolled in a winter class, that is perfectly fine. There is likely a good reason. Use this time to rest, read something that nourishes you, invest in your church, or simply recharge. If you are studying a language, it might help to keep reviewing, but for most classes it is okay to step back and pay attention to the bigger picture of what the Lord is doing in your life right now.

Understanding the Post-Break Slump

Feeling unmotivated after a break is not a sign of weakness or failure. When you have been under stress and finally get a chance to relax, your body and mind will often resist returning to a demanding routine. During the break, your attention likely shifted toward family, friends, ministry, or personal interests. Now you are asked to switch back into “student mode.”

That adjustment takes time. In the middle of it, I want you to remember that your deepest identity is not “tired student” or “productive student,” but one who belongs to Christ. Your studies are one way you steward that calling. They are not the measure of whether God is pleased with you. In Christ you are clothed in his righteousness, and God delights in you. Rest in this today. Your truest identity is not your performance as a student, but as a beloved son or daughter in Christ, forgiven and made in God’s image.

The Power of Small Beginnings

One of the most effective ways to move through inertia is to simply begin, even with something small. When you do not have a clear plan, it is easy to freeze and feel overwhelmed. Once you take a first step, momentum usually starts to build.

If you are struggling to find motivation, break your work into manageable pieces. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, choose one thing you can do today. Organize your workspace, review your schedule, or set a clear goal for the week. These small actions can help you regain a sense of control and direction.

Reconnecting with Your Purpose

As you move back into your academic routine, I want to encourage you to make a little space for solitude, reflection, and prayer. Ask God to redirect your thoughts, remind you of your calling, and renew your desire to study. Willpower alone will not carry you for a whole term. Lasting motivation usually grows from a deeper sense of purpose.

Do not save prayer and reflection only for crisis weeks. Invite God into the everyday moments, the planning, the reading, the writing. When you seek his presence in your work, you will often find strength and encouragement in very ordinary details.

Whether you are starting a new term or taking a well deserved break, I want you to give yourself grace. The transition from holiday mode to student mode is not always easy, but it is a normal part of the academic journey. Take small steps, reconnect with your purpose, and trust that God is at work in you, even when your motivation feels thin.

Program News: Career Development Center

One lesser known resource I want to highlight this week is the Career Development Center. You might hear that and think it is just for finding your next job, but it is much more than that. Amanda Gleitz, who leads the center, can help you with resume development, navigating a transition into full time ministry after another career, and exploring opportunities through job board. If you are wondering what your next steps might be in finding a church or ministry role to serve in, she is there to help you think that through.

You can contact Amanda at careerdevelopment@sbts.edu