Monday morning. The sworn enemy of pastors. It’s said that many pastors quit every Monday morning, only to re-up by the end of the day. On Monday morning, Sunday gets replayed in our head. The good and the not-so-good. “Thank you Lord for Your felt presence. For those people who said yes to following You. For how well our teams served.” These positive thoughts are countered by: “Why didn’t so-and-so show up? Is the Sunday experience missing something that leaves them half-hearted in their commitment? Am I failing? Do I want to do this anymore? Jesus take the wheel!” Welcome to Monday morning in Pastorville.

Can I confess to you—without losing your respect—that since I accepted a part-time role giving oversight to the launch of a new church plant a few months ago, similar thoughts try to impose their will on me almost every Sunday night and Monday morning? There are a few weeks where battling with negative thoughts has been imperceptible… but some weeks where it’s been intense. Other pastors tell me a similar story.

The question is: What can we do about the Monday morning blahs? Here are 3 realities we need to face that can help us better navigate Mondays in Pastorville:

Direction

Specifically, where I direct my attention and thoughts. Focusing on Sunday’s wins first and foremost can improve a pastor’s Monday morning. Think about and celebrate what went right. Yes we need to address issues, but focusing on wins first helps us counteract the drift toward Monday morning negativity. Direction has to do also with remembering what we can and can’t do. Pastors can plant and water—and we should plant and water diligently and with excellence—but it’s God who brings the growth. We can’t control who shows up on Sunday, but we can control the quality of the Sunday experience. We can’t force people to grow up, but we can create favorable conditions for growth to occur. Focusing on what went wrong and what we can’t control leads to a tough Monday morning in Pastorville.

Depletion

Pastors expend a ton of energy on Sunday, So when the negative thoughts attack on Monday, we don’t always have enough emotional energy to process those thoughts correctly. When we’re tired, it’s easier for negativity to rule. (And if you’re a Detroit Lions football fan, Sundays during the fall can deplete you even more). Taking a long walk on Sunday afternoons has been therapeutic for me and Laura. Watching a clean funny movie and belly-laughing refuels the emotional tank. Exercise and laughter re-energize us, help us clear our thoughts, and generally improve our perspective. Exercise and laughter can help cure what ails us on Monday morning in Pastorville.

Devil

Let’s face it… the devil wants pastors to quit. He is public enemy #1. He highlights the negative, always. He never points out the positive. His mission is to destroy a pastors’ confidence, faith, vision, and sense of calling. He lies repeatedly to pastors, telling them they’re not capable enough, gifted enough, energetic enough, funny enough, etc. Pastors need to fight back. When Jesus was attacked by Satan, He responded by reminding him what was written in the Scriptures. He fought back with the truth. He wouldn’t allow Satan to take His mind where it shouldn’t go. If fighting back seems too hard… call in reinforcements. Reach out to friends and intercessors. Ask them to pray for you. Remember you are loved by God. Called by God. Sent by God. Don’t let the devil mess with your head on Monday.

Mondays in Pastorville don’t have to drown us. Let’s focus on what’s good first. Let’s take time to replenish our depleted emotions/energy through exercise, laughter, and friendship. Let’s resist the devil’s attempts to drown us in the cesspool of doubt and despair. If you need a safe person to talk to, I’m here for you. Reach out to me at [email protected] and let’s start a conversation.

I’m rooting and praying for you!