5 Things To Remember For When You Hate Mondays

photo by Niv Rosenberg

Everybody's a weekend warrior these days. We live for it - always hoping for that next big adventure, the next grand holiday, or even just the next time we can sleep in a little more. On Friday mornings we jump out of bed ready to start the day because we know it's only a few more hours until it ends (and we get a taste of freedom). And by the time Sunday night rolls in, we're already dreading what's to come the next day - hating the fact that we have to get up early tomorrow.

So much excitement is poured into these measly two days of the week that we tend to forget being grateful and planning well for the other five. Is this all that we've reduced our lives to? To say we want to live life to the fullest, but only find life's meaning when we're travelling, eating, experiencing new things, or laughing with friends. Come Monday, we post pictures and quotes on our social media of the weekend that was and wish we could relive it all over again, as if life has stopped for us for the next few days. How ironic.

HOW TO BEAT THE MONDAY BLUES

Being a follower of Christ doesn't exempt us from feeling the drudgery and monotony that is Monday. But there are things that we can remember to help us fight it and become more grateful:

1. Remember that everything, even time, is the Lord's

When Solomon wrote the book of Eccelesiastes, he was tired. After experiencing everything that one could possibly experience on earth (wealth, fame, power - you name it), he opens his book by saying that everything under the sun is meaningless and nothing but vain pursuit. And so if we're feeling a little bored with life on a Monday, we're in good company.

But towards the end of the book he writes this statement:

"Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”" - Ecclesiastes 12:1

After going on and on about how time on earth is limited and all things are temporary, he reminds his audience to remember God. For all things are through Him and for Him. We must remember that we are living on borrowed time and therefore must be good stewards of it. When we learn to see things this way we will slowly realize that every minute we spend is precious, so there should be no partiality towards weekdays or weekends, mornings or evenings. If all of time belongs to the One who is not bound by time, then our obedience and compassion towards others does not and should not depend on a certain day of the week, our mood on a certain time of the month (girls, you know what I'm talking about), or how much coffee we've got in our system.

2. Your life is not your own

Understanding that everything was made by God and subject to His authority - including you, should lead us to thankfulness for every waking moment we get to spend on earth.

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Going back to the man of wisdom, Solomon writes in the book of Proverbs that man makes many plans, "but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails". What if one day God decides that we wouldn't wake up anymore? It might sound a bit cruel to some and this kind of questioning often leads people to think that God is harsh and immature - but when you're the Creator of the Universe, isn't it only right that you get to call the shots?

Because we never know when our time will come, we should be grateful for the life we have now every chance we get. This thought should fuel our desire to get up in the morning - no matter how early - and sit through traffic, and do our work knowing that He finds pleasure in continuing to entrust us with these small things.

3. Set goals with an eternal perspective

God's mercy is what allows us to wake up each new day and carry on our way (See: Lamentations 3:22-23) but when the time comes, we will have to give an account. Will we be proud of what we have to present to God when that day arrives?

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" - Philippians 3:8

Paul David Tripp often says that we "are currently living in between the 'already' and 'not yet'." Which means that while it's true that we have been saved and justified by faith, we are far from perfect and have not "arrived". Sin is still rampant in the world and in our hearts, which makes it harder for us as Christians to constantly keep Christ in the center of our agenda. It's often easier to push ourselves to give our best when we have a visible goal in mind. We don't mind putting in a bit of overtime when we know we're trying to buy a new gadget, or score some tickets, or when we want to treat ourselves to simple luxuries. These are not bad goals - but as soon as we've achieved them, what then? They break, get lost, get stolen, or become obsolete eventually.

Let's invest our time and our efforts towards things that reap eternal benefits. What that looks like in the everyday is between you and your Maker.

4. Work can be worship

Let me set one thing straight: I'm not telling you to worship your work. It's one thing to work excellently, it's another to become a perfectionist. Those who have fallen in love with the American Dream often forget that God establishes their every move. There is a warning in Scripture for those who fall into this category:

"And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands" - Jeremiah 1:16

Rather idolizing work and risk becoming too proud from the work of our hands, our work can be a tool used to bring glory to God. Sat through traffic but got to work safely? Give glory to God. An overwhelming workload from a boss that trusts you can accomplish everything? Give glory to God. Meeting got cancelled? Give glory to God. Every day and every moment can be used as an opportunity for the gospel, so train yourself to find those moments.

"Whatever you do, work heartily, for the Lord and not for men." - Colossians 3:23

It must also be said that when we claim to live under grace, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to work well and have self-discipline because He works in us (2 Timothy 1:7). Did you catch that? The God we worship is a worker Himself (Also see: Philippians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). So laziness, procrastination, and defiance make for a bad witness of what He has done in our lives.

5. Find your satisfaction in Christ

Come to think of it, the warning mentioned earlier can go both ways. It can make an idol out of non-work/leisure too. When we're craving for an adventure or post pictures and tell stories thinking "look at where I've been!" or "look at what I've done" - we put ourselves in danger of thinking that our joy comes from these things. Do you see how deceitful our heart is? I'm just gonna go ahead and say it: if you're constantly looking forward to the weekend so that you can chase down a thrill, then this is an empty pursuit. It's no wonder why you hate Mondays, or hate routine. Nothing satisfies you. You find fulfillment in a temporary rush, when everlasting joy can be found in the love of a Saviour.

"Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food." - Isaiah 55:2

The prophet wasn't just talking about eating healthier here. He was talking about the kind of Food that satisfies you completely. In his book Not Yet Married, Marshall Segal writes:

"We defeat these threats to our soul by keeping ourselves more satisfied in God. Someone who eats like this - who feeds himself on all that God is for him forever - will not squander his or her life striving for nicer things..."

Am I saying that weekends are wrong? Absolutely not! That it's wrong to have some fun on your spare time? Far from it. But if we say that we are to find joy in Christ, regardless of circumstance and to be thankful in ALL THINGS - shouldn't that include Mondays too? The agony we feel during the major setbacks and seemingly devastating circumstances is rooted in the same sin as the moments that feel bland and boring. We want things to turn out better for us. We want our best life NOW. But God employs the trials and the trite to show us that we won't find those pleasures here, and certainly not in one weekend.


So by the time next Monday rolls in, consider these things and challenge yourself to live under grace like the ransomed believer that you are. Prepare well, just as you would any other day, and don't give in to the blues. Rather, let the Holy Spirit sanctify and color your life with the vibrant hues of grace, joy, compassion, and obedience.