June 4

Elijah
1 Kings 18, 19

Yesterday, I found out that our puppy Sawyer has an infected ear. Travis and I had to clean out the ear to get rid of the infection. Sounds easy enough? Unfortunately, Sawyer is a high-strung, energetic puppy with a hurting ear, and he doesn't understand that what we're trying to do is help! It took both of us to hold him down while trying to clean the ear with medicated solution. Honestly, he was struggling so much we probably could have used a 3rd person to assist! It was very difficult, but it had to be done in order for his ear to heal. It became abundantly clear to me that doing the right thing is not always easy or pleasant.

During Elijah's life, he had to do many things that were far from easy or pleasant. He had to tell King Ahab (described as the worst, vilest, most evil king Israel ever had) that there would be a drought lasting three years. He had to survive through that drought. As the only prophet of God left, he had to confront the 450 prophets of Baal. He was threatened by Ahab's equally evil (if not more evil) wife, Queen Jezebel and forced to flee. He had to journey 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb to receive instructions from God. He was tired, exhausted, spent, lonely, depressed. None of these things were easy to do. But Elijah did them because he was obedient to God. Ahab and Jezebel were an infection that was destroying the once great nation that God created. All the things that God instructed Elijah to do were for the purpose of restoring Israel.

Doing the right thing is rarely easy. But, like Elijah, we have God on our side. God protected and provided for Elijah every step of the way. He always had food to eat, water to drink, and his enemies never even laid a finger on him. No matter how difficult or unpleasant it may be, He will always be there to give us the strength, courage, and the ability to do what is right.