Welcome to the daily Chizuk (encouragement). There are people in life who are angry at Hashem. They say, “I try so hard to be good. I learn, I go to shul (synagogue), and I’m so careful with kashrut (kosher observance), but I never get what I want. Only bad things happen to me.” They think that Hashem is out to get them. These people have to know that although it appears Hashem is hurting them, in reality, Hashem is only helping. He only wants to benefit you. Whether you understand it or not, the story is told of a man in an airport in Israel, on his way to Chutz La'aretz (outside the Land of Israel).
While waiting at the gate to board the plane, he suddenly got very hungry and went to buy a bag of donuts. He came back to his chair and put the bag down with his other bags next to him. Then he saw the guy sitting next to him suddenly stick his hand into the bag to take a donut. He couldn’t believe the nerve. Then the guy took another one. So he said, “I better start eating them before they’re all gone,” and started eating. Finally, there was one donut left, and he wanted to see if that guy had the audacity to take the last donut. The guy picked it up, broke it in half, ate a piece, and gave the man the other piece. The man was outraged. When he finally got onto the plane and opened up his bag, he noticed a full bag of donuts. He thought that this guy was taking from him, but in actuality, he was really giving.
So too, sometimes we think Hashem is taking away. He was taking away our peace of mind. He’s taking away things that are important to us. But one day, we will find out He was only giving and giving. Perek Kuf Heh in Tehillim talks about Yosef’s trials and tribulations in Mitzrayim until Hashem made him the viceroy. And the Sefer Ki Atah Imadi asks about the implication of Rashi there: Yosef was tested for 12 years in jail. He was in jail with Eshet Potiphar, with the wife of Potiphar. But we know that the test only lasted for one year.
The Rabbi says, “It must be that every day Yosef had to spend in jail, he could have thought, ‘I was so good. This is what Hashem does to me. I deserve to be rewarded, not punished.’” And for 12 years, he was being tested: “Are you going to regret that good deed that you did?” But he never once regretted it. He’s Yosef HaTzadik (the righteous). Very often, it’s the test after the test that’s harder than the test itself. A person becomes religious and doesn’t see things going his way. How are you going to react? The reward for not rebelling and trusting in Hashem could be far greater than the religious acts that you did. What came about from Yosef staying so strong in jail? He became fit to serve as a king for 80 years. Hashem knew what He was doing. He was making Yosef worthy of the wonderful blessings that He had in store for him.
There are hidden jewels beneath every affliction. And when you know how to accept them with love, they become so much more valuable. A woman said she was waiting and waiting for a shidduch (marriage match) for her daughter, but nothing was working out. One day, she borrowed someone’s car, and it got stolen. She said, “If my own car got stolen, I wouldn’t mind, but I felt so bad. These people did me a favor, and I lost their car for them.” She said, “I was in such agony, but I knew Hashem was in control.” The next day, she got a call about a shidduch, and her daughter ended up marrying the person. We don’t understand Hashem’s ways, but they are always for our benefit. Never regret a good deed. Stay strong, and one day you will see: although you thought Hashem was taking, He was really giving. Have a great day.