Lesson 36
In relation to Hashem's incomprehensible greatness and unfathomable exaltedness, the slightest improper motion or glance that is not in line with His honor should cause a person terrible suffering, G-d forbid. However, Hashem is full of compassion, and He greatly desires for this world to exist, [so He doesn't judge a person strictly according to his actions]. Therefore, dear brother, my heart and soul, be very strong and brave, and trust that Hashem will never abandon you. Know that everything you're going through is for the best and rely on His endless compassion. For Hashem is very immense, and His greatness is beyond measure. There is a way for all bad to be transformed to good and sins to merits. Just be strong and brave.
(Based on Likutei Mohoran II, 49)
The more that a person awakens himself to serve Hashem with yearning and to truly enter the path of teshuvah, the more he notices that the yetzer hara attacks him every day with a different spirit of foolishness that entices him to sin. Sometimes, the yetzer hara gives a person a strong craving for food. Other times, he makes him bitter and depressed, or he tries to overwhelm him with illicit desire. This realization can cause a person to get discouraged and think, "How can I possibly achieve anything good?" He doesn't know what to do, because of the hard battles he has to face on so many fronts.
This is especially the case for someone who comes close to the ways of tzaddikim. The more a person learns their sefarim and begins to grasp a little bit of the greatness of Hashem and how much there is to achieve, the more he is astounded at his immense distance from the truth and how little he has done to start serving Hashem properly. This often causes a person to fail to do what is still within his reach, since he gives up when he realizes: “In relation to Hashem's incomprehensible greatness and unfathomable exaltedness, the slightest improper motion or glance that is not in line with His honor should cause a person terrible suffering, G-d forbid."
