עברית
Finding Goodness in Tough Times: A Journey of Acceptance
Sometimes, what appears to be good isn't truly good, and what seems bad isn't necessarily bad. We must learn to recognize true goodness, even when it feels like a significant challenge.
A young couple walked into a marriage counselor's office, and the atmosphere was tense.
The counselor turned to the wife and asked, "What brought you here?"
With sparkling eyes, the wife immediately responded, "My husband never listens to me! He simply doesn't hear me!"
The counselor, wanting to demonstrate the issue right away, turned to the husband and asked, "Excuse me, what did she just say?"
The husband, momentarily confused, stammered, "Uh... that I brought her here?"
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Hashem says to Abraham, "Lech lecha". Rashi explains it as "for your enjoyment and benefit".
How can it be that this challenge is considered one of the hardest tests? After all, Hashem explicitly tells Abraham: "Go for your enjoyment and benefit" (Rashi).
If someone is told that something is for their ultimate good, why is it such a difficult trial?
I saw an explanation in the book *Netivot Tzedek* by Rabbi Leff (a rabbi from the community of Matityahu): this is precisely the trial!
The greatest difficulty is recognizing and accepting that this is your good – even when it feels challenging for you, daunting, or even bad.
The test is to wholeheartedly believe that your true goodness is currently in an uncomfortable place, a place that contradicts your simple understanding and desires.
Not everything that seems good to a person is truly good, and not everything that appears bad is indeed bad.
A person must recognize and understand what true goodness is, even if in their eyes it seems like a significant harm.
And how do we do this? Instead of complaining about the situation or arguing with the difficulties, we need to listen. Listen to the inner voice, listen to the guidance, and patiently wait to see how the bigger picture of goodness is revealed.
Our true goodness requires faith and inner order, understanding that the good is out there, waiting for us to discover it, even behind the most challenging journey.
Rabbi Hananiah Mains is a lecturer, parenting guide, and emotional therapist specializing in technology addiction.[email protected]
