There was a man, Nochum Ish Gam Zu, who was the teacher of Rabbi Akiva. He was known for his unwavering faith that everything that happened to him was for the good. Whenever he faced adversity, he would say, 'גם זו לטובה'—this too is for the good.
Now we are entering the time of Geulah (redemption), a time when the love of Hashem will be revealed like the sun coming out from its shield. In that time, we will see openly how everything is truly good, and we will say, 'This is G-d we have awaited.'
In the generation of Nochum Ish Gam Zu, which was closer to the time of the Beis Hamikdosh (Holy Temple), it was possible to reveal this level of faith even in the world itself. In later generations, such as that of Rabbi Akiva, the darkness of exile became greater, and it was harder to see openly how everything is good. Even if one knows with simplicity that everything is for the good, it does not always come down in a revealed way in the world.
This teaches us that while it may not always be possible to see the good in every situation, we must maintain our faith that everything Hashem does is ultimately for our benefit, and that the time will come when this will be revealed to all.
