Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

Catapult Into Greatness


Listen Later

There are people who have to endure enormous yisurim in this world. Some are not able to leave their hospital bed. Some have been abandoned by their family. Some don't have any family. Not only do they have challenges beyond imagination, but they have nobody by their side helping them through them. A common denominator in challenges is usually thoughts of why is Hashem doing this to me? Am I so bad? What could I have possibly done in the previous lifetime to deserve all this? All they want is just to have a normal life like everybody else. Some even feel that Hashem hates them, lo alenu. We can never judge anybody. Nobody truly knows how difficult a person's circumstances are. And we hope and pray that they improve quickly. However, we must understand the way Hashem views yisurim. The pasuk says, כי את אשר יאהב ה' יוכיח. It is the ones that Hashem loves most that have to endure yisurim like this. The Mesilat Yesharim reminds us our purpose in coming into this world is not for this world. We are here to acquire eternal life in Olam HaBa. This world is a drop in the ocean compared to the Next World. A person has a very limited amount of time in this world to do a job that will earn him the right to live blissfully forever. The Pesikta Rabbati in parashat Achareh Mot says, Fortunate is the person who has to endure difficult yisurim in this world and does not complain to Hashem over it. Who had more difficult yisurim than Iyov? Rav Chaninah bar Pappah said, If Iyov would not have complained about his yisurim, the same way we say אלוקי אברהם, אלוקי יצחק, ואלוקי יעקב in the Amidah, we would have added אלוקי איוב as well. This statement is mind-boggling. It implies that Iyov would have been elevated to the same status as the Avot HaKedoshim had he accepted his yisurim. Our Avot dedicated every moment of their lives to Hashem. They became the greatest people who ever lived. How could it be that Iyov would have been considered on their level? This is how valuable it is for a person to trust Hashem and accept the way He deals with them. The more difficult a person has it, the greater is his opportunity to elevate himself. We only came into this world to achieve that purpose. Some become great through tireless avodat Hashem, day in and day out. Some can reach greatness with just a few words out of their mouths. If with all the difficulties they are going through and all the questions they may have and all the potential hard feelings they have towards Hashem, if they could change their attitude and say, "Hashem, I trust You. I know You're the only One in charge of my life and You are giving me the exact life that I need to fulfill my purpose in this world." That will make them great. Those words can elevate them to be counted amongst the greats of the generation and perhaps the greats of all time. We hope the yisurim will go away quickly, but before they do, the person should seize his opportunity while he has it to catapult himself into greatness, to attain the highest portions in the Next World. The value of accepting yisurin is beyond comprehension. That is precisely why it's so difficult to do. If we can persevere and accept the way Hashem deals with us, we'll rise to the highest levels and we'll be eternally rewarded.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Living Emunah By Rabbi David AshearBy Rabbi David Ashear

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

94 ratings


More shows like Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

View all
All Classes by Rabbi YY Jacobson

All Classes

369 Listeners

The Israel Guys by The Israel Guys

The Israel Guys

293 Listeners

Jewish Stories to Inspire: Motivational & Spiritual Stories Based on the Torah's Ethics, Values and Wisdom by Stories to Inspire

Jewish Stories to Inspire: Motivational & Spiritual Stories Based on the Torah's Ethics, Values and Wisdom

185 Listeners

The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast by Rabbi Dr Yitzchak Breitowitz

The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast

230 Listeners

Living with Emunah by Rabbi Efrem Goldberg

Living with Emunah

92 Listeners

Meaningful People by Meaningful Minute

Meaningful People

1,968 Listeners

From the Inside Out: With Rivkah Krinsky and Eda Schottenstein by Rivkah and Eda

From the Inside Out: With Rivkah Krinsky and Eda Schottenstein

250 Listeners

18Forty Podcast by 18Forty

18Forty Podcast

652 Listeners

Call Me Back - with Dan Senor by Ark Media

Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

3,050 Listeners

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing by The Times of Israel

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

1,056 Listeners

Kosher Money by Living Lchaim

Kosher Money

824 Listeners

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast by JLE

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast

214 Listeners

Gedale Fenster - Podcast by Gedale Fenster - Podcast

Gedale Fenster - Podcast

379 Listeners

Inspiration for the Nation with Yaakov Langer by Living Lchaim

Inspiration for the Nation with Yaakov Langer

1,082 Listeners

Stories Of Hope With Tzipora Grodko by Meaningful Minute

Stories Of Hope With Tzipora Grodko

285 Listeners