Two Levels in Emunah
Whenever it happens that we experience disappointment or challenge, there are two levels of emunah with which we may react to the situation. One way is to initially become upset and disappointed, and then counter these feelings with chizuk that it was all bashert... that it was all from Hashem.
But then there’s another level of emunah, which is an instinctive reaction. Immediately upon experiencing the situation, the person senses that the Ribbono shel Olam has orchestrated it for his good. This Yid doesn’t need to wage a battle with his thoughts; it’s clear to him that everything is for his good, and he thus remains calm, serene, and happy.
This is not to put down the person who’s on the former level. The level of ‘גם זו לטובה’ that a Yid toils to connect with—even when it’s difficult and halfhearted—is extremely precious in Shamayim. It’s a true avodah, and there’s an eternal reward for it in This World and in the Next World.
Hashem Wants Our Instincts
But the ultimate goal is for a Yid to arrive at the level at which the emunah is ingrained in him naturally—he doesn’t even need to battle for it; he simply lives this way.
In a sense, this person may not receive as great a reward as the first person. He didn’t even become angry, and he wasn’t even tempted to retort or take revenge... it wasn’t even difficult for him. The one who had to restrain himself from these instincts may receive a greater reward. But this is the ratzon of the Ribbono shel Olam: that our hearts should become forged with emunah, and every instinct should be honed and sharpened in this belief.
The Rebbe Rav Zusha indeed said that he didn’t expect as much reward for his avodas Hashem in later years—when he derived such great pleasure from his avodah—but rather for the earlier times, when it was difficult for him, and he had to toil until he attained such great chiyus and pleasure in his avodas Hashem.
A Pleasant Life
A Yid who has fine-tuned his instincts simply lives a pleasant life. He doesn’t suffer anguish—because he lives a life of הוא בורא ומנהיג לכל הברואים, He creates and conducts all the creations. Of course, this is a life’s work, and there will always be challenges in this regard. But, in general, such people will have pleasant and joyful lives—because they will see everything through a lens of emunah.
Generally, when a person must swallow a difficult set of circumstances, it’s extremely bitter and difficult to accomplish. But after a few days, after he has slept over it, he calms down, and we can have a conversation with him.... A person who lives with bitachon is always in a state of “a few days later....” So often, we have a disappointment... something happened different from what we expected, and it’s painful. This person thought that his friend will reciprocate for all the good that he has done for him over the years, but, shockingly, he has let him down. “How can he be so ungrateful?!” But after a few months, he gets over the shock. He becomes accustomed to the feeling, and it doesn’t bother him as much.
The Yid who lives with emunah and bitachon never had to get over it. He was always blissful and serene, because the feeling of הוא לבדו עשה ועושה ויעשה לכל המעשים is deeply ingrained in him.
