Someone said to Reb Yisrael Salanter zy’a, “I don’t think I’ll ever do teshuvah. I'm set in my ways, and I can't change.”
Reb Yisrael Salanter rebuked him, “Chazal tell us that when we blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, the Satan becomes frightened. He fears that our teshuvah heralds the shofar of Moshiach. So, you see, even the Satan believes in your ability to do teshuvah. Why don’t you?”
The Beis Avraham zt'l (this week's parashah) explains that seeds don't grow in gold or silver, only from the earth. This serves to remind us that when a person is at a low level, down in the dumps, he can grow and flourish. This is hinted at in this week's parashah (20:19), השדה עץ האדם כי, comparing humans to trees planted in the ground. You are in the ground, but you can rise from those low levels and reach the highest levels.
7. Rebbe Mottele Slonimer zy'a (Maamar Mordechai p.342) told the following story:
Two tzaddikim were friends. They made a pact that whoever dies first will come to his friend in a dream and tell him what happened to him in his judgment in heaven.
One of them was niftar, and soon afterwards, he came to his friend in a dream. He said, "When the court reviewed my deeds, they saw that everything was perfect. But I had one sin...and for this, I was told that I would need to go to Gehinom. I told the court that I don’t want to go to Gehinom, so they brought me to a huge building, gave me a small hammer, and said, 'Demolish this building with the hammer. When you finish, you can go to Gan Eden.'
"I was devastated. It seemed it would take many years before I demolished the large, sturdy building. My only tool was a small hammer.
"But then I thought: ‘Why did I wear tallis and tefillin every day during my lifetime? Why did I study Torah and keep the mitzvos? It was because I wanted to do Hashem's will! Well, now it’s Hashem's will that I destroy this large building with this hammer. Even if it takes many years, I will do my mission with joy.’ Joyously, I raised the hammer and swung it at the building with all my might. The entire building collapsed, and I was swiftly brought to my place in Gan Eden."
This story reminds us that sometimes a deed can seem very difficult, but if you set yourself to doing it, Hashem will help you. Therefore, don't be afraid if the path of teshuvah seems daunting. Do what you can, and with Hashem's help, you will succeed.
Hashem will help even me – the lowest person of all.
Rabbeinu Yonah (Mishlei 3:6) states the benefits that are earned from bitachon. He writes, "In addition to the reward you will receive for your bitachon in the next world, which is very great, you will succeed in everything you do."
