Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

There’s a feeling that creeps in somewhere around Sunday afternoon. The weekend is still technically here, but your mind has already left. It’s jumped ahead to Monday morning, to the inbox, the meetings, the problems waiting on your desk. Your stomach tightens, your rest gets stolen, and a day meant for peace becomes a day of dread.

Many people call it the Sunday Scaries. For some, it’s a mild annoyance. For others, it’s a heavy weight, especially when the job ahead is genuinely hard. For me Sunday was an evening of anxiety.

I know that weight well. A few years ago, I held a job so demanding that the Sunday Scaries weren’t just a catchphrase. They were my reality.

I would go to bed Sunday night already tired, already bracing for what Monday would bring.

The challenges were real, and so was my fear that I wouldn’t be able to meet them.Looking back, a few things carried me through.

By the grace of God I was able to:

Trust God. This sounds simple, but it wasn’t easy. Trust is hardest when the outcome is uncertain and your own strength feels thin. Yet I found that placing the week in God’s hands, even imperfectly, loosened the grip that anxiety had on me. I didn’t have to carry Monday all by myself.

Pray. Sometimes my prayers were long and heartfelt. Other times they were just a few honest words: Lord, help me with this. Prayer didn’t always remove the difficulty, but it changed how I faced it. I walked in with more peace than I could have produced on my own.

Humble myself and ask for help. This one cost me some pride. I ended up seeking advice and support in places I never would have expected, from people I might have overlooked. But help came, and often from those unlikely corners. If you’re struggling, don’t let pride keep you isolated. Someone may have exactly the wisdom and support you need.

Work hard. Faith is not a substitute for effort. I put in long hours to make sure tasks were completed and took comfort in knowing I gave my best. Dread may result from being unprepared; diligence may answer powerfully.

Admit to the struggle. Although very tempted to act as if I had it all together, in my case the workload was such that I just could not. At least to myself and trusted friends I was honest.

I regularly attended church. In my exhaustion, there were times I was tempted to skip it if only because there was always more work to do. But, thank God I kept showing up to service. Super glad I did.

Worship, fellowship, and the reminder that I belong to Someone bigger than work adjusted my perspective. Sunday wasn’t just the day before work. It was a day to be restored.

If you’re dreading Monday right now, I want to encourage you. The hard season you’re in won’t last forever, and you don’t have to face it alone. Pray, ask for help, work faithfully, and hold on to your community of faith. Take it one day at a time.

Monday will come. And so will the strength to meet it.

Blessings and Favor,

Kimberly