_(english).jpg "Oblivious to the Music")
_(english).jpg "15 Lessons from Shiva")
The voice of God is within might (Psalms 29:4). The verse does not read "within His might"; it therefore means [that God communicates] with each person according to that person's might or capacity (Shemos Rabbah 5:9).
A young couple who began to observe Torah and mitzvos suffered severe adversity after becoming observant. They were not only deeply affected by their misfortune, but were also very confused. "Why is God doing this to us now? Before we became Torah observant, everything went smoothly for us. Now we have all this happening. Is this God's way of rejecting us, telling us that He does not welcome our observance?"
No one knows why certain people suffer in certain ways. However, this much is certain: for whatever reason that suffering does occur, God does not burden people with more than they can bear. No one can explain why adversity visited this young couple, but for whatever reason that it happened, they had already achieved enough strength to bear it.
Can we then say that people would be better off being less spiritual so that they would not be subjected to as much suffering? No, for if we carry this argument to its logical extreme, we would be still better off being cows in the pasture and not suffering at all.
Solomon said, As one increases wisdom, so one increases suffering (Ecclesiastes 1:18). The Rabbi of Kotzk commented, "Maybe so, but let me suffer and be wise rather than be tranquil and a fool."
(1) sonia, January 1, 2011 12:41 PM
Life is all about solving problems
If life is like a school where we learn to better ourselves, everything that comes our way is a chance to grow. when you learn mathematics, as you grow, the teacher gives you more complex tests to resolve. Life is no different. It happened to me, some 10 years ago, and I found this thought very appropiate. And I have gone on with my life, and faced many new challenges, and found many, many, opportunities for joy.