These two lessons are like a summary of all teachings of encouragement we’ve learned previously. It is possible to make a completely new start in life just by listening carefully to the powerful message of truth that comes from these two sentences, which awaken a person to always search for the advice he needs at this moment to find more chiyus and feel close to Hashem.
The foundation of this search depends on the realization that “even in the lowest depths, a person can be close to Hashem.” The more we internalize this message, the more we can find the motivation to constantly look for encouraging advice and get what our souls need.
Sometimes, people have doubts about the concept of chizuk. They know that they’re far from Torah, tefillah, and avodas Hashem, and they see that they keep falling every day. So, what does it help to hear that Hashem loves them and He’s proud of them, and so on? This is the main reason that people don’t learn the holy sefer Meshivas Nefesh in a serious way of trying to understand how each lesson relates to their lives. They don’t realize that by following the advice of this sefer they will merit great levels of kedushah.
However, in these two short lessons, Rebbe Nachman awakens us to truly comprehend the source of why we must search for chizuk. Every Jew must yearn for Hashem and know that every good movement he makes gives Hashem great pleasure. When a person understands this, he will see the need to listen carefully to the encouragement of the tzaddikim and receive their advice.
The foundation of attaining this understanding is in these two brief teachings.
