It’s something for which I believe we all have room for improvement.
I’m talking about emotional intelligence.
I’m talking about the awareness of how others are feeling, of what has contributed to that status and of what we can do to help them to feel encouraged.
This is particularly important when it comes to building influence in others’ lives.
We all have memories of times when we had the emotional intelligence of a brick and our words or actions — or both — poured salt on wounds rather than healing.
And, of course, we can recall when others did the same toward us.
Listen, being sensitive to others’ feelings is an important thing.
Particularly when that person is a member of our biological or spiritual family.
I read today of an emotionally intelligent man who lived more than 3,000 years ago.
His name was Elkanah and he was the husband of Hannah.
You can read his story by clicking here, but here’s the gist.
Although Elkanah was polygamous, something God didn’t like but allowed in that day, Elkanah’s heart belonged more to Hannah than to his other wife Peninnah. As you read the passage, you’ll see why Peninnah was hard to love.
Elkanah knew that Hannah’s heart was hurting because of her barren womb and that Peninnah’s mean-spiritied words were making it worse.
Yet, Elkanah also knew that Hannah had always demonstrated godly character and humility, despite the deep void in her emotions.
Like so many men today, Elkanah’s heart was strongly drawn to Hannah because she was such a good person in the midst of bad circumstances.
He knew that Hannah was struggling, that he loved her deeply because of how her character and kindness moved his heart and so he poured extra blessing into her life in order to demonstrate his appreciation and kindness to her.
I’m sure that the overflowing statements of love were very meaningful to Hannah.
I’m confident that the godly Hannah saw the blessings from her husband as ultimately having come from the Lord as a sign of His favor.
The day came, of course, when Hannah gave birth to Samuel and, true to form, Elkanah was supportive of Hannah’s pledge to dedicate the boy to lifelong ministry once he was weaned.
It’s a beautiful story, of course.
There is no doubt that Elkanah’s emotional intelligence played a huge role in sustaining Hannah during the dark days of barrenness made worse by a mean-spirited Peninnah.
Please, my friend, ask God to make you more aware of how others are feeling, of what has contributed to that status and of what you can do to help them to feel encouraged.
This just might be the help they need to get through a discouraging season before God pours a huge blessing into their lives that will minister to many, many other people in a mighty way.
As always, I love you
Martin
