Honor in the Trenches

Finding purpose in the daily grind and mess of life.

Trail Marker:

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." (Colossians 3:23, NIV)

Devotional:

Let's be honest—dog ownership isn't all hiking adventures and Instagram moments. It's also 6 AM walks in freezing rain. Cleaning up messes. Handling vet bills. Sweeping endless fur from every corner.

It's showing up day after day, doing unglamorous work that nobody applauds.

But that's where the real strength of your character reveals itself—not in the highlight reel, but in the daily grind. The willingness to handle mundane responsibilities with consistency and without complaint.

Your dog gets this instinctively. They find joy in ordinary routines—the same walk, the same bowl, the same greeting at the door. They don't need constant novelty to find meaning. They understand something our culture has forgotten: that faithfulness in small things creates a foundation for everything else.

Jesus Himself spoke to this when He said, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much," (Luke 16:10, NIV). The daily disciplines—often messy, rarely celebrated—are where God builds men of substance.

When you handle the unglamorous parts of dog ownership with steady commitment, you're doing more than caring for an animal. You're practicing the kind of reliable character that makes you trustworthy in every area of life.

Real Talk:

Where do you find yourself resenting the "trenches" of responsibility instead of finding honor in them? How can you improve in that area?

Scripture-Based Prayer:

Father, reframe my perspective on the daily responsibilities of caring for my dog. Help me find meaning in the mundane and purpose in the ordinary.

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin." —Zechariah 4:10 NLT

When I'm tempted to view daily dog care as tedious, remind me that You see and value faithfulness in small things. These "small beginnings" build something significant over time.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." —Galatians 6:9 NIV

When dog hair covers every surface again or when another early morning walk looms, guard me against weariness. Help me persist in doing good, trusting that character is being built even when it feels like nothing but maintenance.

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.'" —Matthew 25:21 NIV

Let me hear Your affirmation when no one else notices the consistent care I provide. Help me to see that faithfulness with this dog—this seemingly "small" responsibility—matters deeply to You and prepares me for greater purposes. In Your faithful name, I pray.

We hope this plan based on Heather Hair's book,"DOG DAD DEVOTIONS & PRAYER GUIDE: 24 Lessons on Leadership, Loyalty, and Love" encouraged you as you care for your dog. If you would like to get the book for yourself or as a gift, visit Heather's resource page at this link.