2 Samuel 24:4,5
“Nevertheless, the king’s order prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army left the presence of the king to conduct a census of the people of Israel. They crossed the Jordan and camped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the Valley of Gad and toward Jazer.”
David wanted a census of the army. It was sinful, as they were to put their trust in God, not the army. Joab and the commanders saw this and tried to persuade David to abandon the idea. He wouldn't hear of it, so they had to comply. Some times we have to do things we disagree with. As employees, we encounter this. However, we aren't the bosses. If we want to continue getting paid, then we should comply.
These aren't moral issues, at least not for us. It was for David. He shouldn't have done it. We aren't being asked to deny our faith or to support evil. This compliance is tough. We have to do it.
This reminds me of another aspect of life. There is tedium in life. It's like the boring drive through the desert. To get to the destination, we have to keep going. There are parts of life that is that way. Just like the compliance, we have to persist through those feelings of malaise to complete things.
Another aspect of unpleasantness is the doldrums. This is interesting application the windless waters that sailors would get stuck in. They would have to drift until they picked up wind. It could have taken days or weeks. We will go through periods of boring plainness. These are the times we may feel blah. We have to continue doing the good things. God will bring us through.
Lord, help us through those tough times. Thank You for Your faithfulness.