Active Theology

“Where shall I go from your Spirit?
   Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
   If I make my bed in Sheol*, you are there!”    (Psalm 139:6-7, ESV)

Everybody’s working for the weekend, but we all know that the weekend always comes to an end. As the hours tick away on Sunday and we notice Monday drawing nearer, we can often have the “Sunday Scaries”. According to a LinkedIn survey, 80 percent of professionals say they experience the Sunday Scaries, with over 90 percent of Millennials and Gen Z reporting they feel it. (The Sunday Scaries is a feeling of dread or anxiety due to the fact that the time of rest is over and work, school, and responsibilities begin again.) 

As a pastor, I sometimes get the “Saturday Scaries” since Sunday morning happens to be my first and busiest work day and it’s not always an easy transition. My wife also gets the Saturday Scaries when she starts thinking about getting three little kids to church on time by herself. I cherish my time spent with family on the weekend. Our weekends usually involve a slow day at home or a trip to a coffee shop. I do my best to disconnect. I try to look at my phone less and check my email sparingly. But when the weekend is over, my mind quickly gets flooded with thoughts of Sunday responsibilities and the things I need to do in the morning. To be honest, I need a weekly reminder and a dedicated time to reset with the Lord just as much as the next person. I’m not always the best at setting myself up for the beginning of another week.

Different sources online suggest various strategies to combat the Sunday Scaries – get more sleep, treat yourself to coffee on the way to work, exercise, or disconnect from social media. All of these are good suggestions, but something is missing. First and foremost, we need to hand our Sunday Scaries over to the Lord and recognize that He can provide the most help. 

Something that never comes and goes in our lives is the presence of God. Weekend or not, He is present. This is something we might know in our head, but oh how we forfeit this amazing privilege! In Psalm 139, David mentions the highest and lowest locations possible (physically and spiritually) to demonstrate that God will continually be with us. Whether we begin our week full of excitement and zeal, or we wish we could just lay in bed and avoid Monday morning, the truth is that God is there. Whatever your current state may be, He’s there with you. What else do we know about God? We know that He’s the One who is full of compassion, mercy, steadfast love, and faithfulness. (Ex. 34:6) Our heavenly Father is the author and giver of all comfort. (2 Cor. 1:3) We can draw near to God as our provider of strength and help in the midst of our troubles. (Ps. 46:1) In the midst of a chaotic week, we can go to God and find peace (Ps. 29:11). These things aren’t far from us because God is near. We can’t outrun God’s presence. The author and provider of all these things goes with us.

Pray: Lord, I know you are with me. Throughout the highs and the lows of life You never fade, disappear, or retreat. You are the author and provider of compassion, mercy, love, and faithfulness. Remind me that I can come to You for comfort, strength, and peace at any moment. Amen.

Song: “Heart Won’t Stop” by John Mark McMillan

*Sheol is a word used in the Old Testament to describe “the depths, or the realm of the dead”

Craig is a worship pastor at Wallula Christian Church and the creator of Active Theology. He loves coffee dates with his wife, reading, and riding his bike. A few of his favorite things are third wave coffee, vanilla ice cream, and plain t-shirts.