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The Ryan Fields-Spack Blog

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A Christmas Gift for Dads: Surrender, Listen, and Lead – Lessons from Pastor Brandon Robbins

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This Christmas, while the world rushes through lights, gifts, and family gatherings, many dads quietly carry a heavier load. The pressure to provide, protect, lead, and keep everything together can feel crushing—especially when the year has been long, the news is loud, and the soul feels stretched thin.

I recently sat down with Pastor Brandon Robbins, a man who has spent nearly two decades pastoring, teaching, and now reaching hundreds of thousands through his YouTube ministry. What started as a conversation between two dads in a mastermind group became one of the most profound interviews I’ve ever recorded. If you’re a father who feels the quiet ache of wanting to be a better man of faith, husband, and dad—but isn’t quite sure where to start—this message is for you. Especially now, heading into Christmas and the fresh start of 2026.

Here are the most powerful takeaways from our conversation, along with concrete action steps so you can begin applying them immediately.

1. The Real State of Christianity Isn’t What the Headlines Say

Brandon shared a hopeful perspective that cut through the noise:

“I feel like I see more signs of revival… Gen Z, this generation who some would have said they don’t want anything to do with the church, now are coming back to the church in droves.”

He pointed to projects like The Chosen as a spark that has fanned flames of curiosity and return among people who had drifted. This isn’t hype—it’s evidence that God is moving in quiet, powerful ways.

Action Step for Dads: This Christmas, don’t just attend church because it’s the season. Show up intentionally. Bring your family, sit in the same pew, and afterward, ask one simple question over coffee or in the car: “What spoke to you today?” Listen. Then share one thing that moved you. Small, consistent moments like this build spiritual momentum in your home.

2. Surrender Is the Key to Hearing God’s Voice

One of the most piercing moments came when Brandon described how burdens blind us:

“Those burdens just kind of weigh on you… all you can see is the ground right in front of you. And in the moment that you’re willing to release some of that stuff… I finally stand back up straight again and I can look out and see the horizon.”

He tied this directly to the biblical command of Sabbath—learning to rest so we stop playing God and start trusting Him.

Action Step for Dads: Pick one burden you’ve been white-knuckling (finances, a struggling kid, marriage tension, work stress). Write it down on a piece of paper. Pray this simple, honest prayer: “Lord, I’ve been carrying this alone. I surrender it to You. Speak to me when I’m ready to listen.” Then set aside 30 minutes this week—ideally Christmas week—to be silent. No phone. No agenda. Just listen. Many dads discover that clarity arrives only after they stop trying to force it.

3. Prayer Isn’t a Performance—It’s a Relationship

Brandon reframed prayer beautifully:

“As dads… what I want is my girls to tell me what they need… The last thing I want is for you to go and just try to figure it all out on your own and suffer in silence. And God looks at us and says the exact same thing.”

He reminded us that God invites us to ask boldly—not out of selfishness, but out of relationship.

Action Step for Dads: Start a 30-day “Pour It Out” habit. Every morning or night, talk to God like you would talk to your best friend or your own father. Name the need. Name the fear. Ask without apology. Then end with: “Thank You that You hear me, and I trust You to move.” Watch how this simple shift changes your posture toward your wife, your kids, and your own heart.

4. Your Kids Need to See You as a Disciple—Flawed, Chosen, and Growing

Brandon’s love for the disciples—especially Matthew the tax collector—reminded us that Jesus deliberately chooses the unworthy:

“If Matthew’s somebody Jesus calls… there’s nothing we could do that’s worse than that.”

Your children don’t need a perfect dad. They need a dad who is honest about his flaws and keeps following Jesus anyway.

Action Step for Dads: This Christmas, share one story of when you failed and God showed up anyway. Tell it at the dinner table or during a quiet moment with your kids. Say: “I wasn’t proud of that moment, but Jesus didn’t give up on me—and He won’t give up on you either.” That single story can plant deeper roots than a hundred lectures.

5. The One Thing You Want Them to Remember

When I asked Brandon what single piece of wisdom he’d want his daughters to carry forever—even if they forgot everything else—he said:

“Your father loves you… And your heavenly Father loves you and He is always calling you back.”

That is the diamond of fatherhood: unconditional love that mirrors God’s.

Action Step for Dads (the most important one): Write a short letter to each of your children. Not a long one—just a few sentences. Tell them: “I love you. No matter what you do, where you go, or what you forget, I’m always here. And God feels the same way about you.” Seal it. Give it to them on Christmas morning or New Year’s Day. Then live like you mean it.

Final Thought for 2026

Christmas isn’t just about the birth of a Savior—it’s a reminder that God stepped into the mess of humanity because He refuses to leave us alone in it.

Dads, you don’t have to carry it all. You don’t have to fix everything. You just have to surrender, listen, and lead your family one faithful step at a time.

Brandon ended our conversation with gratitude, and I echo it here: Thank you, Pastor Brandon, for reminding us what matters most.

If this stirred something in you, take one action step today. Then another tomorrow. By this time next year, you’ll look back and see how God moved when you finally stopped trying to move everything yourself.

Merry Christmas, brother. Here’s to a 2026 defined by surrender, clarity, and love that never gives up.

— Ryan Fields Spack For more from Brandon Robbins, check out his YouTube channel and the Unlock the Bible Challenge at brandonrobbinsministry.com/challenge

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