Welcome to the Daily Chizuk. Some people have the wrong perception of Hashem. They think Hashem is a very strict judge who gave us a whole list of rules to follow and is waiting there with a stick to hurt people who don’t listen. They think that by doing the mitzvot (commandments), Hashem isn’t going to hurt them. There could be nothing further from the truth. The love and mercy that Hashem has for us is beyond our comprehension. I once heard someone quote in the name of Rav Moshe Feinstein that the love Hashem has for the biggest sinner is a million times greater than the love we have for the biggest tzaddik (righteous person).
The book of Malachi starts off saying Hashem has a message for us through the prophet. And what’s the message? Ahavti etchem amar Hashem. Hashem says, “I love you.” The Malbim there explains the word etchem. Etchem means Hashem loves us for who we are, not because of the love He had for us but because of the love He had for us. Not because of the love He had for us but because of the love He had for us. Not because of the love He had for us but because of the love He had for our forefathers. This prophecy was said in the days of the second Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple), when most of the people were doing terrible aveirot (transgressions).
The Gemara in Berachot on Daf Zayin (page seven) says in the Pasuk (verse) that Hashem is gracious to all people, even though they aren’t worthy. There’s a Pasuk in Mishpatim talking about a poor man crying out to Hashem. The Pasuk finishes by saying, “Hashem says, ‘I will listen to him because I’m compassionate.’” The Ramban there explains that Hashem accepts the pleas of all people, even though they’re not worthy. And the Ramban finishes by saying, “It’s a rule that Hashem made. He’ll have mercy on anybody who asks.”
The Gemara at the end of Berachot says that a thief who’s about to rob and cries out to Hashem for help will be answered. Even though he’s violating a negative commandment, Rav Tzadok HaKohen explains that since he shows he still has faith in Hashem just by turning to Him, in that merit alone he’ll be saved.
They tell a story about Rav Yisrael Salanter. One time, he was invited to the palace for a meeting with the Queen. It was at a time when she had just had her first child after 30 years. She told the Rabbi how much she adored the child and that her whole life’s goal now was just to make sure the child was well. She said she was going to make sure the child was always happy and prevent him from ever experiencing any suffering. He was going to have slaves wait on him all the time. Whatever he wanted, he’d get.
So the Rabbi said, “You’re going to prevent all suffering, but what if he wants to take a tissue out of his pocket one day, forgets which pocket he put it in, and puts his hand in the wrong pocket? He might have to put his hand in the other pocket another time. How are you going to prevent that suffering?” The Queen said, “Oh, that? That’s just normal life. That doesn’t bother me.”
When the Rabbi left the palace, he looked up to Shamayim (heaven) and said, “Hashem, look how much You love us. This Queen got her first child after 30 years. How much love does she have for him? It doesn’t bother her if her son puts his hand in the wrong pocket. But, Hashem, You consider that a suffering for us, like the Gemara says: if a person puts his hand in his pocket, takes the wrong change, and has to do it again, that’s called Yisurin (affliction). It bothers Hashem, and we have to do that.”
Hashem loves us more than we can imagine. A person should never be discouraged from turning to Hashem for help, never be discouraged from praying, and never say, “Hashem doesn’t want to hear me.” He loves hearing you. Shabbat Shalom.