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.
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