Finding the Light in the Dark: How Challenges Lead to Goodness

Life is full of ups and downs. We all experience moments that feel like pure joy, and then there are those times when things feel difficult, confusing, and even painful. It can be hard to see the bigger picture when you're in the middle of a tough situation. But what if we shifted our perspective? What if we understood that even in the hardest moments, there’s a path leading us toward something good?

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato, in his work Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, offers a profound teaching about the nature of good and evil, and how everything in the universe, even what seems bad at first, is actually part of HaShem’s plan for ultimate goodness.

He explains that HaShem, in His infinite wisdom, designed the world in a way where both individuals and the world as a whole will eventually reach a state of good. The tough times, or what he refers to as "punishments," are not random acts of cruelty. They are more like tough love, nudging us in the right direction. They are temporary, and their sole purpose is to guide us toward something better. In the end, HaShem’s desire is for us to experience goodness—lasting, real goodness.

Think about it this way: it’s like working through a complicated puzzle. At first, all the pieces seem scattered, and some don’t seem to fit. But as you keep working, piece by piece, the whole picture begins to form, and eventually, you see something beautiful. The scattered pieces were necessary to create the final masterpiece. In the same way, life’s challenges are part of the bigger picture, leading us toward something meaningful and good.

But it goes even deeper. Luzzato reminds us that HaShem is the only power in the universe. Some people have believed in the past that there might be two forces—one for good and one for evil—but that’s not how it works. Everything comes from HaShem. Even though we experience both good and bad things, it all comes from one source, and that source is entirely good. The tough moments don’t come from a separate, opposing force but are instead part of HaShem’s bigger plan to bring about the best possible outcome.

"HaShem our God, HaShem is One" doesn’t just mean there's only one God. It means that everything—no matter how it appears on the surface—comes from HaShem’s oneness and is ultimately working toward a singular purpose: good. We may not always see the plan or understand why things are happening the way they are, but we can trust that nothing is outside HaShem’s control and that everything is moving us toward good in the end.

So the next time life throws you a curveball, remember this wisdom. Even when things seem hard, when they feel overwhelming or downright unfair, there’s a bigger plan in play. HaShem is guiding everything toward goodness, and in time, that will be revealed. It’s like a workout for the soul—uncomfortable in the moment, but leading you to strength, growth, and ultimately, a deeper connection with HaShem’s purpose for you.

Trust the process.

In the zechut of Sima Sara rivka bas malka baila Fruma- ( parnassa) and Tzvi hirsch ben rivka may they have complete emuna as well as klal Israel.

In my book Pick Me Up HaShem, you’ll find many prayers that explore how HaShem is constantly drawing us closer to Him, inviting us into a deeper relationship through prayer and reflection. These prayers are designed to help you connect with the divine presence in a way that transcends mere requests and taps into the true purpose of prayer.

If you’re ready to dive deeper into these spiritual truths, consider studying Kabbalah, the mystical tradition that unlocks the profound secrets of our reality and draws us closer to HaShem’s divine wisdom. Delve into teachings that illuminate the “why” behind the Torah, connecting the layers of Creation in a synergized whole and offering a glimpse of HaShem in a way no other study can. From the timeless wisdom of Rabbi Chaim Vital and the Arizal to the unifying insights of Rabbi Sar-Shalom Sharabi (Rashash), Kabbalah not only transforms your spiritual understanding but also brings peace, protection, and redemption closer to our world. Sponsor my study in this sacred tradition and receive its blessings for sustenance, health, and family, ensuring that the powerful light of Kabbalah shines in your merit.

Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah from a portion of Chapter 2

וכמו שהמציא העונשים שהם מספיקים לפרטים - שבסוף יקבלו טוב, כך יוכל להמציא מין עונש, או מה שיהיה, לכללות העולם גם כן, שבתחילה יהיה רע, ובסוף יהיה טוב. אלא ודאי כך הוא באמת, שאין רצונו ית' אלא טוב. וזה מה שצריך שיהיה קיים לעד, כי שליטת רצונו קיימת. ואם האמצעית לזה יהיה רע - אינו כלום, כי אדרבא, תראה כונתו הטובה ופעולת כונתו הקיימת - שהיוצא מכל הסיבוב לכל צד הוא רק הטוב שבחוקו ית': Since the Supreme Will planned that all the individual components of creation will ultimately attain good, it must be His purpose to bring the entire world to attain only good in the end. Just as He created punishments sufficient to bring each individual to receive good in the end, so He has the power to create a kind of punishment, or whatever else it may be, for the entire world, that is evil at first but ends up being good. It is certainly true that His will is only for good, and this is what must endure forever. For His power is forever and only His will holds sway. If the means to accomplish this end is through evil, this does not undermine His intention to benefit everyone, for evil is the means to eventual good. On the contrary, His good purpose will eventually be revealed and the intended result will endure forever. For what comes out of the entire cycle on every side is only His essential goodness. וכל מה שהוא רע בתחילה, אינו יוצא מרשות אחר ח"ו, שיוכל להתקיים נגדו, כיון שידענו שמה שהוא פועל - צריך שבסוף יהיה טוב, עתה צריך שנדע עוד אמת אחר, והוא שודאי אין יש אלא רשות אחת, לאפוקי מן הכופרים שאמרו שתי רשויות יש. והיינו כי כשאנו אומרים שאלקינו הוא אחד - צריך להבין בכאן שני דברים, שאף על פי שאנו רואים כל כך מקרים בעולם וכל כך מסיבות גדולות מתהפכות לכמה גוונים, אנו יודעים אף על פי כן שאין יש אלא מאציל אחד ית"ש, ורצון אחד. לאפוקי - שאין שום רצון מונע על ידו אפילו עלול ממנו. ומכל שכן לאפוקי - שאין יש שתי רשויות ח"ו, אחד פועל טוב ואחד פועל רע, אלא ה' אלקינו ה' אחד בכל מיני יחוד. All that is initially evil does not arise from another domain that could endure against Him. Now that we understand that what He does must ultimately be good, we must understand another truth. This is that there is certainly only one domain, contrary to the claim of the unbelievers that there are two domains. When we say that our God is one, it is necessary to understand two things. The first is that even though we see such a multitude of diverse phenomena in the universe and so many different and opposing causal chains, we know that even so, there is only One God, blessed be His Name, and only one Will. The second thing that follows from saying that God is one is that no other will can limit Him, even one brought into being by Him. And it is certainly impossible that two powers or realms exist, one creating good and the other creating evil. “HaShem our God, HaShem is One” – with every kind of oneness and unity.

Prayer: The Ultimate Life Hack You’ve Probably Been Sleeping On

Alright, let’s be real—when was the last time you really *thought* about prayer? Yeah, exactly. It’s like that random app on your phone that you downloaded forever ago because someone said it was cool, but now it’s just sitting there, collecting virtual dust. Torah learning? Sure, we get why that’s important—study for the final, ace life. Making money? Obviously, because bills and rent. But prayer? It’s like, “Yeah, I’ll squeeze it in if I can, right after I scroll TikTok and crush this iced coffee.”

But here’s the tea: Rebbe Nachman, spiritual game-changer extraordinaire, was like, “Y’all are sleeping on this. Prayer isn’t some ancient ritual. It’s the *cheat code* to life.” Seriously, once you understand what prayer *really* is, it stops being this thing you feel guilty about skipping and starts becoming the thing you *run* to when life throws you curveballs. And if you’re still not convinced, let me tell you a story about two broke guys and their Rabbis that’ll make you rethink everything.

So picture this: Two guys, both broke (like, “I’m surviving off ramen” broke), go around asking for help. One guy’s like, “My Rebbe’s got connections. He’ll sort me out with enough money to last a couple of weeks.” So off he goes, and sure enough, he gets some cash. Problem solved, right? For like, two weeks, maybe.

Now, the other guy? He’s a follower of Reb Nosson, and word on the street is that Reb Nosson is just as broke as they are. Everyone’s like, “Dude, why bother? You know Reb Nosson can’t give you anything. He’s not rolling in gold coins.” But this guy doesn’t care. He heads in to see Reb Nosson anyway. And when he comes out? He’s literally glowing. Like, spiritually *vibing*. Did he get money? Nope. But what he did get was so much better—he left with a sense of *Gan Eden* (aka paradise). And suddenly, he didn’t feel like he needed anything else. It was like he leveled up spiritually and didn’t even realize it. Who wouldn’t want that?

So here’s the deal—Rebbe Nachman? He’s not here to give you loose change. He’s handing you the *key* to the express elevator that takes you straight up to the heavens. You know how the sky seems impossibly far away, like, “Yeah, sure, heaven’s up there somewhere”? Well, Nachman’s like, “Bro, just press the button.”

Prayer is that button. It’s not hard. You don’t need to know the passcode or pull out a complicated map. You just step in, push the button, and before you know it, you’re on the 100th floor, chilling in the clouds with HaShem, sipping on some spiritual latte. It’s literally that easy. So why aren’t we pushing that button more often? Because we forget that it’s there. But trust me, once you remember, you’ll be pressing it all the time.

In Likutei Moharan* I:2, Rebbe Nachman calls prayer a weapon. Not a weapon like Thor’s hammer or Captain America’s shield, but something even more powerful. He says this is the weapon of Mashiach (yep, the Mashiach). How do you move the heavens? Prayer. How do you unlock HaShem’s mercy? Prayer. How do you change your life when everything feels upside down? You guessed it—prayer.

Fun fact: the word Mashiach comes from the Hebrew word masiach, which means “to talk.” So really, Mashiach’s big move? It’s talking to HaShem. And let’s be real—if that’s the move that’s going to change the world, it’s probably a good idea to get in on it, right?

Here’s the wild part: HaShem literally wants to give you Probably. He’s standing there with this huge bucket of blessings, but He’s like, “Look, you gotta ask for it. That’s how it works.” Prayer and emunah (faith) are like your vessel. They’re how you create space for all the goodness HaShem wants to pour into your life. No vessel, no blessings. It’s like trying to catch rain with your hands—you’re going to miss a lot of it. But when you pray? You’re setting up a giant, spiritual bucket to catch it all.

Now, let’s talk about the Tsaddikim (those righteous folks). These guys are like your spiritual baristas. You show up with your prayer—maybe it’s a little messy, maybe you’re not quite sure if you worded it right. But the Tsaddikim? They take that prayer, and they perfect it. They make sure it gets delivered to HaShem in the best possible way, with all the extra whipped cream and sprinkles on top.

But here’s the thing—they don’t do it all for you. You still have to bring your prayer to the counter. Once you’ve done your part, they come in with the finishing touches.

Reb Nosson, our prayer MVP, knew this better than anyone. Whenever something was missing in his life, it was because he either didn’t pray at all or didn’t pray enough. And you could see it. Whenever a problem came up, he’d get a little stressed (who wouldn’t?). But as soon as he prayed? He was cool as a cucumber. Why? Because he knew he’d opened the prayer pipeline, and salvation was already on its way.

Here’s the takeaway: prayer isn’t just some religious routine to squeeze in when you’re not busy. It’s literally the most powerful tool you’ve got. It’s the express elevator to the top floor of life, the ultimate life hack that too many of us have forgotten about. Prayer is your personal hotline to HaShem, and it’s always open, always ready. No hold music, no waiting for the next available representative—just you, HaShem, and all the potential in the world.

So, what now? Stop thinking of prayer as a “when I get around to it” thing and start seeing it for what it is: your direct connection to everything you need. Whether it’s peace of mind, guidance, or straight-up help with life’s chaos, prayer is the way to get it. And here’s the best part—you don’t have to be perfect at it. Just start. Hit that button, step into the elevator, and see where it takes you.

Remember, it’s not about saying the perfect words or knowing all the right prayers by heart. It’s about talking to HaShem, being real, and opening up. Even if your words are messy, your thoughts scattered—trust that HaShem is listening. And the Tsaddikim? They’ve got your back, polishing those prayers and making sure they reach the top in the best possible way.

So, next time you’re feeling stuck, stressed, or like the world is just a bit too much, don’t reach for your phone to scroll mindlessly through social media. Instead, take a deep breath, say a prayer, and remember: you’ve got the ultimate weapon in your hands. It’s time to start using it.

Go ahead, press that button, and let HaShem take care of the rest. You’ve got this.

The Logic of Prayer: Why Asking and Thanking Go Hand in Hand

When it comes to prayer, we often think of it as a purely spiritual act, something we do because the Torah commands it. But what if I told you that prayer is just as much a *rational* act as it is a religious one? That’s exactly what Rav Saadya Gaon teaches us in his deep dive into the mechanics of prayer. He shows that our daily petitions and thanks aren’t just tradition—they actually make perfect sense from a logical standpoint, too. Let’s explore why asking for what we need and showing gratitude are both crucial parts of our relationship with HaShem.

First things first: Rav Saadya compares our relationship with HaShem to that of a servant and a master. It’s not exactly the modern-day job dynamic, but hear him out. A servant can’t command or give orders to the master; instead, they approach humbly, requesting kindness, forgiveness, and mercy. This is how Rav Saadya says we approach HaShem in prayer. We’re not there to demand things (as if we could!)—we’re there to humbly ask for what we need and express our gratitude for what we’ve already received.

This idea is reinforced by the verse, "Take with you words" (Hoshea 14:3). It’s a reminder that our words in prayer matter, and they should reflect the humility of a servant before a master. But beyond tradition, why *should* we be asking and thanking? Rav Saadya explains it all.

Here’s where things get interesting. Rav Saadya was one of the first Jewish thinkers to blend faith with philosophy, and he argued that there’s no contradiction between the two. In fact, he believed that Torah and reason come from the same Divine source, so they can always be reconciled. This means that prayer isn’t just something we do because HaShem told us to—it’s also something that makes logical sense.

In his *Book of Beliefs and Opinions*, Rav Saadya explains that HaShem created the world for our benefit, with the ultimate goal being our spiritual growth. To achieve that growth, we need mitzvot (commandments). And within those mitzvot, there are some that we understand with our minds, like the need for gratitude, and others that are revealed by HaShem because we wouldn’t have figured them out on our own.

When it comes to prayer, Rav Saadya says it’s one of those mitzvot that makes perfect sense logically. If someone does something good for you, it’s only right to thank them. That’s basic human decency. The same applies to HaShem, and that’s why gratitude is one of the foundations of prayer. But there’s more to it than just saying thanks.

If gratitude is so important, why does so much of our prayer consist of asking for things? In the *Amida* prayer, for example, we spend a lot of time making requests—health, wisdom, peace, you name it. Rav Saadya explains that this is because we, as humans, are constantly in need. We need things today, we’ll need things tomorrow, and so petition (asking for help) becomes a big part of how we connect with HaShem.

But here’s the thing: just because we’re always asking for things doesn’t mean that’s the *most* important part of prayer. In fact, Rav Saadya argues that all three components—praise, gratitude, and petition—are equally vital. Together, they create a complete picture of our relationship with HaShem.

When we ask for help, we’re acknowledging our dependence on HaShem. When we give thanks, we’re showing our appreciation for everything He’s already done. And when we offer praise, we’re recognizing HaShem’s greatness. These three elements work in harmony, helping us fulfill our duty in prayer.

Rav Saadya goes a step further by saying that gratitude is actually the *first* commandment dictated by reason. It’s the most natural human response to kindness, and it’s something we all understand intuitively. That’s why it’s at the heart of prayer, even if petition takes up a lot of space in the *siddur*. When we thank HaShem, we’re not just checking off a box—we’re fulfilling a fundamental obligation of both the Torah and reason.

So, the next time you pray, take a moment to think about why you’re doing it. Yes, HaShem commands it, but it’s also something that makes sense on a basic human level. We ask because we need, we thank because we’ve received, and we praise because HaShem is greater than anything we can imagine.

In the words of Rav Saadya Gaon, prayer is more than just tradition. It’s a rational, heartfelt act of connecting with the Creator, where every request and every “thank you” plays a crucial role in our spiritual journey.