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Commentary

‘Sunday Scaries’ or Sabbath Satisfaction?

October 2, 2024

A recent survey of 2,000 American adults found that a feeling called the “Sunday Scaries” is disturbingly common, afflicting “the average American” 36 times per year (out of 52 weeks in total). According to the survey, conducted by Talker Research in partnership with Pacific Foods, this “anxiety (32%) or dread (17%) over what to expect for the following week” begins at 3:54 p.m., on average. In answer to this stressed, fearful, anxious fact of our culture, Scripture blows a refreshing gust of biblical wisdom: it doesn’t have to be this way.

The “Sunday Scaries” are not a new discovery; a 2022 LinkedIn survey found that 80% of Americans experienced it, while a Newsweek reporter confidently asserted that this phenomenon is something “we’ve all felt.” But this phenomenon does seem to be on the rise, with Gen Z respondents feeling it most acutely — 74% experience it at least once a month, and some even report that their “Sunday Scaries” begin at 6 a.m.!

Too many distractions may be part of the problem. Fifty-one percent of survey respondents binge-watch TV shows on Sundays, while 29% avoided contemplating the week ahead by immersing themselves in social media. Those escapist activities have never made anyone feel less anxious.

Not all Sunday activities were so unproductive. When asked what they “wish they had more time for on Sundays,” respondents also gave answers like “visiting loved ones” (17%), “going for a walk” (12%), and “yardwork” (10%).

But notably absent from the Top 15 list of desired Sunday activities is the most important of all: going to church. Perhaps, if people spent more time worshiping God and thinking about the things of God, they would be less anxious about their week ahead.

Sabbath Rest

The Christian practice of setting aside one day in the week for worship and rest finds its basis in the creation account. After creating the heavens and the earth in six days, God “rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy” (Genesis 2:2-3).

This creation rest is the reason God gave behind the fourth commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:8-10). The purpose of this command was to provide rest and refreshment, extending even to servants and beast of burden (Exodus 20:10, 23:12). It was also to recall and honor God’s work in creation, which established his character as the one true God, who is sovereign over everything that happens on earth.

The combination of rest and worship is no mere coincidence. Proper worship of God involves acknowledging his work in the world, and recalling his work allows us to rest in him. The good and sovereign God who spoke creation into existence will also “cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate” (Psalm 104:14). He cares for all of his creatures more than we can ever know, and remembering that can free us from anxiety.

Reflecting on God’s work also helps us put our own struggles into perspective, as the Preacher explains in this week’s Stand on the Word Bible readings. God is working out a grand, eternal plan that we cannot comprehend (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Compared to that plan, anything we pursue — pleasure, wisdom, toil — is as transitory as a mist or breath (Ecclesiastes 2). The entire span of our lives is as transitory as a breath (Ecclesiastes 3:19-21). The point of these reflections is “that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot” (Ecclesiastes 3:22). Work under the curse is not necessarily easy (Genesis 3:17-19), but the ability to enjoy it is “God’s gift to man” (Ecclesiastes 3:13).

Christian Extension

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” said Jesus. “For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. … Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:31-32, 34).

After Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1, John 20:1), many Christians have observed the Sabbath on the day we call Sunday, as opposed to Saturday. Scripture seems to indicate that Christians met for worship on this day (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2), and many Christian traditions have honored it as the Christian Sabbath.

Christianity is clear-eyed about the challenges and frustrations we will face in this life, and it does not diminish them. But Christianity also offers a greater, grander vision of a sovereign and good God who works all things for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28), and this vision places those trials in their proper perspective. What’s more, those who trust in God find themselves guarded from anxiety by “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7), which is really as great as it sounds.

In other words, the joy of the Lord helps us overcome the anxiety of our to-do lists. Compared with knowing God and enjoying fellowship with him, it doesn’t even matter how many we do or don’t complete on our weekly checklist. We can endure a lot of other dissatisfaction when they are fully satisfied in God.

If more Americans devoted their Sundays to worshiping and honoring God instead of pursuing their own pleasure, they would probably be a lot less anxious about their week ahead. If this sounds counterintuitive or too good to be true, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. As Jesus promised, “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Joshua Arnold is a senior writer at The Washington Stand.



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