Welcome to the Daily Chizuk. How much does Hashem really get involved in our everyday lives? The Gemara Chullin on Daf Zayin (page seven), which is also brought down in the Hashgacha Pratit (Divine providence) journal, says that a person will not even stub his toe unless it was first decreed and planned out by Hashem. Of course, it’s done with love. The next line of the Gemara quotes Rabbi Elazar as saying, “But we see from here that even the small, mundane things are really Hashgacha Pratit.”
There’s another Gemara in Masechet (tractate) Arakhin that asks: What is the smallest amount of affliction in this world that is called Yissurin (affliction)? Rabbi Elazar says. Another Rabbi says. Another Rabbi says, “I have something even less. If you put your shirt on backwards and had to take it off and do it again, that’s Yissurin.” And Rava says... Then the Gemara asks, “Why do I need to know this?” Because Rabbi Yishmael says, “Whoever goes 40 days without Yissurin should be worried that he will be taken away.” And Rabbi Elazar says, “I have something even less. If you put your shirt on backwards and had to take it off and do it again, that’s Yissurin.” He is getting his Olam Haba (the World to Come) now. So we have to know what’s called Yissurin.
Someone once asked the question: How could it be that if none of these inconveniences happened in 40 days, you’re getting your Olam Haba now? Maybe you had a good tailor and a good bartender, and you were careful when you got dressed and put your shirt on properly. Maybe you were careful when you put your hand in your pocket to take out the right change. We see from here that the tailor doesn’t really have the final say, and neither does the bartender. Hashem is involved with our tailoring. Hashem is involved with our drinks. Hashem is even involved when we get dressed, and even when we put our hands in our pockets. This is how deep Hashgacha Pratit is. When we realize that Hashem is with us 24 hours a day, in every aspect of our lives, and He only does what’s good for us, it’s much easier to take the clothing back with a smile and put your shirt on again without anger. And even if you stub your toe and it bleeds, we could have in mind that we just brought a Korban Olah (burnt offering). Have a great day.