Welcome to Daily Chizuk. We hear stories all the time of people who had problems, tzarot, difficult situations, and who were saved through their emunah (faith) and tefillot (prayers). Sometimes we hear of a person who needed money, relied on Hashem, and Hashem came through. Sometimes we hear of people with sicknesses whose doctors gave up, and miraculously, the patient was saved. We hear stories of people who were childless for years, and all of a sudden the yeshuah (salvation) comes. These are all wonderful stories, and each story mechazek (strengthens) our emunah. Each story we hear gives us hope that I, too, can be helped, no matter how hopeless the situation seems to be. If a person could find their zivug (match) after so many years, then Hashem could let me find my zivug. If Hashem could give someone a child after 12 years, then I also can be zocheh (be privileged); I have a child after so many years. The more we hear, the more hope it gives us.
We know Chazal (the Sages) tell us, Yeshuat Hashem keheref ayin. The salvation of Hashem could come in the blink of an eye, but to see it with our own eyes gives us tremendous chizuk (encouragement). This is the glory of being a Jew. We know we have Hashem, who could do anything. He’s not limited by statistics or odds. There’s always a way out. There’s always a solution. To live with hope gives a person strength to get through the toughest situations. Tomorrow it could change. Tomorrow it could be better.
But at the same time, there’s a danger in hearing so many beautiful happy endings. People might get angry: “Why doesn’t it ever happen to me? I thought that I relied on Hashem for help, and I was let down. I thought I prayed so hard, and I didn’t see any results.” Does this mean that I don’t have enough emunah? Or that my tefillot aren’t being heard? Having these questions could cause a person to lose emunah.
We have to know: Hashem is the mekor hachesed; He’s the source of kindness. Everything He does is hachesed, whether we understand it or not. He listens to every word you say. He knows every feeling in your heart, every thought that passes through your brain. And even if you didn’t get the results you were hoping for, it’s also a manifestation of Hashem’s kindness, as hard as it is to imagine. But when a person responds with emunah, even when they didn’t get what they want, it’s one of the greatest services He could do in this religion.
The Sefarim (holy books) talk about the unbelievable spiritual heights a person reaches when he says, “I don’t know why this is happening, but I know you love me, Hashem, and I’m going to continue to hope and pray and serve you no matter what.” The people who don’t see the happy endings, and continue to believe and continue to get close to Hashem, could become so great that they have the entire world resting on their shoulders. And every time they mechazek themselves, they grow even more. If a person has been praying for such a long time, and there’s still no salvation, and they’re ready to give up, the next prayer of hope to Hashem becomes so much greater. And even if you still didn’t see the answer, the accomplishment you made by praying that extra time is an enormous spiritual accomplishment that you have forever.
This is the life of emunah: recognizing the greatness of Hashem, learning about His chesed, hearing about His chesed, hoping to Hashem, and knowing He could help me, but at the same time understanding that I have to trust Him. He knows what He’s doing. Even if I didn’t get what I wanted, I’m going to continue serving Him, and I’m going to continue to be happy. Have a great day.