Do You Have the Monday Blahs?

As I drove down the freeway the other day, a billboard caught my attention. At first, I could only see the top half which said “Beat the Blah Out of Monday.” I wondered, as I came nearer to the billboard, what the bottom half of the message would be! Then I saw it: “Watch Monday Night Football.”

The psychology of the advertisement is hard to miss. When you are feeling bored or even a little depressed, start looking forward to something better. Speaking as a Biblical counselor, I can tell you the downside to this philosophy. If the thing you are looking forward to doesn’t meet your expectations, then you will be set up for disappointment and more depression. Even if it does relieve your boredom, it will only be temporary—and you will soon be looking for the next stimulating event.

The way to avoid this roller coaster effect in our lives is to look forward to something permanent—an undeviating mindset! Abraham looked forward to the “city build by God” (Heb. 11:10). Moses looked forward to an eternal reward (Heb. 11:26). Paul looked forward to the “things above” (Col. 3:2). Jesus looked forward to the “joy set before Him” (Heb 12:2).

Yes, we can validate the psychology of the billboard’s message. But it isn’t Monday Night Football that will get you through the day (what if your team loses?). It must be something more reliable than that. The cure for your Monday blahs is “looking forward to what lies ahead… the end of the race… the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven” (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT).