When We’re Aware, We Understand That We Do Have Everything
When we begin to recognize that the things we have are so custom-tailored for us, then we begin to reflect on the incredible gifts that we have been given, and we see the Fingerprints of the Ribbono shel Olam all over it. “Only He could have designed my life so well; because He knows what’s good for me.” If a human being, who’s limited, would be giving me parnassah, it would never be so suited and perfect for me—because it would be limited.
This person recognizes the Elokus in his gifts! He sees so clearly how the Ribbono shel Olam provides all his needs. He looks for the clues in his life hinting at Hashem’s wonders. He recognizes that one matter was resolved perfectly in his favor, and the other issue likewise concluded in the most wonderful way—and he begins to recognize that what he doesn’t have at the moment is also not good for him at that moment.
He acknowledges, “The Ribbono shel Olam cares for me so deeply, He’s together with me in my pain—the proof is that He has given me so much other good!”
The Proof Is in What We Have
The Sfas Emes teaches us that when a person recognizes and appreciates the good that he has, and he becomes excited about it and gives thanks for it, when he recognizes the great love from Hashem therein, this spills over the nefesh, and calms it tremendously. “Ah, I thought I was lacking, because I didn’t realize... but it’s now clear to me that the Ribbono shel Olam knows what He’s doing. This must not be good for me right now.”
When we begin to appreciate the deep love that the Ribbono shel Olam has for us—as evidenced by the good and the kindness that we have been given—we look differently at the very things that seem to us to be a lack! We realize, “I do have everything. My problem was that I so wanted things to be different, and I didn’t appreciate that this situation is good for me.”
With this recognition and appreciation, every Yid can come into Shabbos and give thanks to the Ribbono shel Olam with a true sense and feeling that “all my work has been done. I truly possesses everything, and I lack for nothing.”
