Question: A couple weeks ago you answered a person that suffered a big financial loss. I could relate to his situation in that things have really been going down hill for me the last few months. It’s hard, really hard. I need something to pick me up and help me to feel better.
Answer: Since Hashem is all good, why does He bring challenges? And, if they had to come, can’t He just quickly take them away?
Challenges raise us up, make us better people. We are forced to become stronger and more sincere, integrating our beliefs into our thoughts, speech, actions and even feelings. Below are several ideas to meditate upon. The more our faith permeates our total being, the better we will feel. Suffering is not easy, however, as we are taught in Ethics of the Fathers: according to the pain is the gain. The quicker we achieve the goal, the quicker the challenge will go away.
- To create our finite world, Hashem concealed His infinite light. However, the ultimate intent of creation is not concealment. Through our G-dly service, a greater light will be revealed in this physical world—the light of Moshiach. In our lives we experience periods of difficulty, concealment. Yet, the challenges we experience are a prelude to a greater good. In Chassidic terminology, tzimtzum (contraction or concealment) is for the purpose of revelation. As it says in Tehillim (118:5), “from the straights (narrowness) I called to G‑d, and then G‑d answered me with expansiveness.” Our trust that Hashem will bestow revealed blessings, hastens the coming of this goodness.
- All of creation, including unholy spiritual forces, receives its life force from holiness, albeit in a contracted and concealed form. Yet, when unholiness is confronted with an increase of holiness, it dissolves like smoke. As the saying goes, “a little light banishes a lot of darkness”. That being said: why is our evil inclination able to conceal our G-dly soul? In other words, why is it given the power to tempt us and lead us astray? That Alter Rebbe explains in Tanya (chapter 29), the intent is that we reveal our greatest potential. Challenges force us to dig deeper, uncovering hidden resources of faith.
- Everything that happens is from Hashem and is good—even if we do not understand. As the Talmud teaches, one is to bless G‑d for the bad just as he blesses Him for the good. In fact, Chassidus explains that suffering has a loftier spiritual source than revealed goodness. Our trust in Hashem during tough times, creates a vessel for the higher concealed good to be revealed. As King David says: “To relate Your kindness in the morning, and Your faith in the nights.” (Tehillim 92)
Aharon Schmidt, marriage & individual counseling, [email protected]
