Mondays have a bad reputation. Every Monday as I start my day, it's almost unavoidable to run into someone complaining about what day it is. You hear it at work, you see the memes on Facebook, sometimes the negativity even starts on Sunday. It has become this automatic given that because it's Monday, it's going to be hard, you won't like it, and you'll probably just barely survive.
I want to show you a different perspective.
You see, I think that most of the time when people dread the big bad Mondays, they are looking at what work is ahead of them, the struggles they went through last week, or the fun of the weekend that they have to leave behind.
It makes sense. We look at our past and size up our future in light of it. But what if we learn from it instead?
In Isaiah it is written:
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." - Isaiah 43:18-19
You see, we all have things that we go through that we don't want to experience again, or sometimes even think about. But we have a hope in the God who makes things new again! He can take our pain and turn it around! There's no need to fear the Mondays. We can walk through them with confidence that He "will make a way in the wilderness". We can choose to thrive instead of just survive!
According to most calendars in the U.S., Sunday is the beginning of the week. And in my culture, Sunday is a day people go to church, spend time with family, and recharge. What a great way to start the week!
But when you look at how many people view Monday, it's as if it were the start of this unwanted season we can't wait to just get through. But it doesn't have to be like that.
Monday is the next step of our new week. If we purpose ourselves on Sunday to start fresh, to renew our strength, and to get ready for what is coming, we don't have to fear our Mondays anymore!
So it is with our soul. We will continue to fear and dread the work that is ahead of us (our Mondays) unless we take the time to recharge and prepare ourselves in advance (our Sundays) to walk through it.
When we resolve ourselves to move on and face tomorrow with Christ, we know He walks with us every step of the way.
"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." - Psalm 143:8
Of course this doesn't mean our troubles will disappear. But our focus needs to be on what goes beyond our circumstances. When we put our trust in Christ, we turn our eyes to what God is doing within us, not the mess that is surrounding us.
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
So Mondays could be seen as a new beginning instead of a dreaded rerun of our struggles of last week. Mondays can be a second chance (or third, or 100th). Mondays can be good. Mondays can be beautiful. Could Monday be the new Friday? Well, maybe not. But it sure doesn't have to be as ugly as we make it out to be.
So today, on this Monday, let's resolve to pick ourselves up and try again. Grab an extra large coffee if you must, but choose to go about your day in Joy instead of darkness, and thriving instead of just surviving. Be renewed, strengthened, and restored. Don't let the lie of the dreaded Mondays take over your week.
Happy Monday everyone!!
