𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐋𝐊𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐇...

You cannot READ this post and your life will remain the same.
Go ahead and see,If you don't know Elkanah, let me briefly tell you about Elkanah, what he did and why you MUST NOT listen to your own "Elkanah".

Elkanah was a very wealthy man, a Levite from Israel. He had two beautiful wives. The names of His beautiful wives were Hannah and Peninnah.
As usual with a polygamous family, trouble was not a visitor but a permanent tenant among the two wives.

Hannah was BARREN while Peninnah gave birth to 10 CHILDREN according to most sources. Elkanah had difficulty managing the strenuous relationship between both wives,he truly LOVED Hannah, the first wife and at the same time, appreciated Peninnah for making him a father, you know.
Hannah was disgruntled with her situation. She was barren for about 19 years. The second wife did not help matters as she constantly taunted her.

To placate Hannah, Elkanah ensured that He gave Hannah more portions than Peninnah and her children, during their annual feasts.But that would not suffice. It did not erase Hannah's barrenness or the scoffing of her co-wife.In exasperation, Elkanah uttered a statement to Hannah that He must have ended up regretting ,then said Elkanah her husband to her, "Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved?"

"AM I NOT BETTER TO THEE THAN TEN SONS?"

Wow, which husband would prefer the wife to remain barren?,If Elkanah truly meant what He said, why did He marry Peninnah?,He married Peninnah because He could not endure being FATHERLESS.Yet, He wanted Hannah to forget her dreams of giving birth to children and accept Him because He was better than 10 sons!

Hannah, please, don't listen to Elkanah!
This beautiful story is from the Bible; 1st Samuel.
Now, let's apply the story to ourselves.

• YOUR ELKANAH can be anything.

It may be your comfort zone, the status quo, people, your fears, limitations etc. screaming at you to GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS/GOALS/ASPIRATIONS and accept your current level because, no matter how you try, YOU CAN NOT ACHIEVE them.

There may be many voices screaming at you NOW "Can't you see that you have struggled or are still struggling to achieve that particular dream or goal?",It would be better to just "CALM DOWN" they may say...

Please, DON'T LISTEN TO YOUR ELKANAH

"Elkanahs" do not mean what they say!

• Apply the WISDOM of Hannah

Hannah stands out in the Bible as a prolific character because of the wisdom she displayed.
Yeah, she must have been involved in some fracas with Peninnah and her children at some point, yet we must emulate her character. Hannah DID NOT GIVE UP ON HER QUEST TO GIVE BIRTH.

Hannah knew she was a woman capable of giving birth and being fruitful. It is given unto every woman to be fruitful! She knew it and she contended for it.Hannah prayed relentlessly among other things she did.Listen, SUCCESS IS NOT FOR SOME SPECIAL PERSONS.

It is not a privilege given to any man, you can BE SUCCESSFUL.Don't believe the lies that you cannot SUCCEED IN LIFE,You are not made to be small, regardless of the circumstance right now.

Please, DON'T LISTEN TO ELKANAH.
Another wise thing Hannah did was that she ENDURED her situation and kept HOPE alive for a better tomorrow.
Endurance is a hard virtue! One quality of every great man or woman is that they can endure.

Hannah endured mockery from her adversary. I don't think it was only Peninnah that made life miserable for her. Think about her peers, neighbours and subordinates?,Yet Hannah endured them all. Endurance does not mean smiling at your foes. Most times, you are permitted to "feel the weight".But whatever you do, do not lose hope. HOPE IS THE SUBSTANCE OF ENDURANCE.

No condition is permanent. The world is but a cycle of good and bad. Retain your HOPE for a better tomorrow, regardless of how bad today is.
YOU are a SACRIFICE away from your breakthrough See, Hannah was not barren because she could not give birth, rather God shut her womb.God did not shut Hannah's womb because He hated her but he needed Her womb to raise a mighty prophet.

God waited for Hannah to sacrifice her womb. Immediately she made the VOW to offer her womb for that project, God released Samuel. Samu-EL simply means "God has heard".
What is the sacrifice that you need to pay for your own "Samuel?", and Life is a game of sacrifices. Nothing just happens! You MUST PAY THE PRICE for success, whatever it is for you.

The best price you can pay is to align with the interests of God in your life and most times, what God demands of you may seem ridiculous and men can mock you,But if you can "foolishly" surrender that "womb", don't worry!,It will take time but HEAVEN IS MOVED BY YOUR SACRIFICE ON EARTH.

Ask Abraham! Check all the men that did great things for God...,According to Apostle Selman, "Blood must be dripping on your altar" and This is not some religious talk, apply this to that vocation God has called you into.

• One "Samuel" can wipe away many years of struggle

• It just takes ONE DAY!

• One day to get that job

• One day to buy that car

• One day to gain the contract

• One day to find that husband/wife

• One day to enter into that serious relationship

• One day to establish that business etc.

You know the sweet thing, the entrance of Samuel means open doors and after Samuel came, Hannah had 5 other children,Your ONE DAY will not be the end but the beginning of many to come and So my dear friend, until that ONE DAY comes, I charge you in the name of God DON'T LISTEN TO ELKANAH.

Go for your DREAMS, The WORLD IS YOURS TO CONQUER
SPECIAL ADVICE: Don't be like PENINAH. If you are having some measure of success now, please don't mock others. Instead, be compassionate and empathetic. If you can help, find the best way to help people.

No man forgets who was there for him in the bad times; equally true for those who were not there in the bad times.Hannah did not forget, she prayed a dangerous prayer against PENINAH and And it is reported that for every time Hannah, gave birth, 2 children of Peninnah died. So, do the maths. In the end, Peninnah became the BARREN one because of her attitude!.

Above all, you that is RISING. Do not rise with the MINDSET of Peninnah and You can make a difference with a positive attitude today and always.God bless you. I hope you are fired up?,Go and win because I want to see you WIN.
Let us know what you learned in the commentssections

#Mondaymotivation
#dontgiveup
#youtoocansucceed