An example of this idea (that when we believe in something we give it power) is when a person struggles with something. He can’t express it in words, but he struggles with it. This person goes to a professional to find help with his struggle. This is a wonderful thing—because this person will help him recognize the root of his problem. But there’s also a danger here. When a person hears that his problem has a name, a label, he begins to believe in it more strongly—and it gains power over him. He is told that his issue has such-and-such a label: this is what you have, and it won’t change. This person then despairs of ever extricating himself from his problem.
We see this in children. When they understand that adults see them as problematic, they despair of being normal. Until now, the child tried. But now he says, “If I am given this label anyway, I see no reason to try and change.”
For us, it means that until we were given a label, we could speak to Hashem: “Ribbono shel Olam, help me! I’m trying, and I’m getting nowhere.” But now that we have a “diagnosis,” we see no reason to talk to Hashem anymore. “This is my reality. This is the world. This is nature. There’s nothing for me to do.”
The struggle now takes on a life of its own. He believes in it—and he chooses to submit himself to its power. This is what’s behind the despair. His struggle looms large over him—and this is a risky thing indeed.
Keeping Faith
We’re not suggesting that people ignore their issues or not seek the help of professionals—of course, a person must investigate and treat a physical ailment, as outlined in Chovos HaLevavos. At the same time, we must know the other side—simply in order to know what’s transpiring in our nefesh.
What happens to a person who has emunah that Hashem will help him and that everything will be fine, but then he’s given a grim diagnosis by a doctor? Many people will instantly lose all their faith and all their hope. But, why? The same pain that exists now existed five minutes ago. Why does it matter that his pain has a name? Because now that it has been identified and given a name, it becomes a terrible, unmovable reality. All the emunah was fine... until now....
Still, this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t go to doctors. It means that we need to understand what’s happening and how to interact with these issues. We must realize that nothing has really changed. It doesn’t matter whether we have a name or a diagnosis. If we previously believed in Hashem, we must believe in Hashem now as well. Nothing changed. On the contrary, our previous approach was really the truth.
These examples underscore the idea that there’s a reality, and then there’s a distorted reality of our own choosing. A Yid must aim to see the essence, the true reality: The Ribbono shel Olam.
