Maharal says that saying Gam Zu L'tovah causes the most extreme evil to become the most extreme goodness. And they can both appreciate being in the worst situation! They are both the Rebbe, and Rebbe’s Rebbe of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
Now we understand how Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said that the day of his death, which is the saddest day, should be a day of intense Simcha. When he was bathing to alleviate his terrible wounds (that came as a result of being buried in the sand for 12 years), his son-in-law Rabbi Pinchos ben Yair cried. The tears fell on his wounds and made it worse.
When Rabbi Pinchos ben Yair expressed his pain from watching Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in such a state, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said: “Aderaba, because of those wounds he became such a giant in Torah, and it was all worth it". Lag Ba’omer should be a lesson for us to emulate these people. Especially according to the Chofetz Chaim Zatzal who said that before Moshiach comes, the only way to last is by working on Bitachon.
There is a famous Kashya: Why is Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai such an unusual celebrity, more than anyone else; more than other Tana’im, from all the personalities of Tanach, and from so many Gedolei Yisroel of all generations? We can suggest that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai remains a message for all of us: Positivity to the extreme. Besides Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai having the most extreme Shita in Bitachon (since he didn't believe in going to work), he is also loaded with all kinds of Inyanei Bitachon which can be M'chazek all of us in any situation.
After losing 24,000 Gedolei Yisroel, Rabbi Akiva had no Yi'ush. He was M'kayem: ˃ֶדָי חַנַּתּ לַא בֶרֶﬠָל קהלת יא ו Don’t stop producing in your old age, and he started all over again with new Talmidim. (Gemara). No Yi'ush! No negativism!
