From the shiurim on Kav Hashgachah Pratis
The most basic principle of our avodah is that “You shall not have a foreign god” – we must not attribute any power to anything foreign. This is the basis of emunah in hashgachah.... It is demanded of Am Yisrael, when they see punishment coming upon non-Jews, that they learn from this and see the Heavenly judgment behind it. Since nothing happens by chance and everything is determined by Hashem’s hashgachah, we have to learn mussar from it. And when we see Hashem’s judgment bringing misfortune upon those who are closer to us, we certainly need to see Hashem behind it. Attributing these occurrences to any other causes is equivalent to bowing down to a foreign god. The passuk states, “I am Hashem your G-d Who took you out of Mitzrayim.” If you contemplate Yetzias Mitzrayim, you will see that everything was done only by the Hand of Hashem. Without Him, none of it could have happened.
(Based on Ohr Yechezkel part 2 p. 279)
To Delve Into and Internalize That Everything Is from Hashem
One of the fundamental principles of the Torah is that a person must think and internalize the fact that all that happens to him is just, in accordance with Hashem’s perfect judgment. This is as it says, “No one hurts his finger in this world unless it has been decreed for him from on High.” He should then examine his deeds and do teshuvah for his evil ways.
(Based on Hame’iri – Beis Habechirah)
Nothing Minor in the World Happens Without Hashgachah Pratis
The smart man uses his eyes to recognize the advantage of light over darkness, so that when he suffers, he turns his eyes and heart Heavenward, knowing that not even a minor thing happens in this world, especially to Am Yisrael, without Hashem’s hashgachah pratis...and that perfect hashgachah controls the natural events of every individual.... There is nothing, no matter how minor, that happens by chance. As Chazal say, “No one hurts his finger in this world unless it has been decreed for him from on High.” And being that this is so, why would Hashem, Who is good to all and Who is merciful to all His creations and Who wants only what is best for them do this? What is this great fury, that brings these yissurim upon me? It must be only because He wishes to heal me completely – to heal both my guf and my nefesh. Through these yissurim I will return to Him fully and completely, with all my power, and from this moment on I will never again repeat this foolishness, and I will commit to serving Him fully, with love and fear.
(Based on Sidduro shel Shabbos part 2 drush 3)
