Emuna Daily

Reb Eliyahu Lopian zt’l compared time to a travel bag. If one packs his bag in an orderly fashion, there will be plenty of space for all his belongings. But if he throws in his clothing without folding them and without an order, the bag will soon be filled, and there won’t be enough space for all his belongings.

Time is similar. If one is cautious and orderly with his time, he will see that there is plenty of time for everything. But if one is careless with time and lets the days slip by, he won’t have time for anything.

When one has emuna and bitachon that Hashem will help him, his emuna will cause it to happen. For example, if one trusts that Hashem will support him and his family, it will occur. ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman Shlita

Now read that again… Extremely powerful!

Just as eye glasses made for someone else are not suitable for you, so too all material tools are tailor made for the person to whom they were given.

Anyone internalizing this perspective will not feel envious of what others possess.

~ R’ Eliyahu Dessler in Michtav MaiEliyahu vol. 1, p. 136

People easily deceive themselves into thinking that they are doing an act of kindness for the sake of kindness, when in fact this is not the case.

The way to test your motivation is to see if you are equally willing to go out of your way to help someone who will be totally ungrateful. When you don’t derive any personal benefit from your act of kindness and you still help others, it is a sign that your goal is to help others for their sake and not for your own. ~ R’ Yeruchem Levovitz zt”1

Hashem performs miracles. The good deeds and the good middos are man’s part. ~ R’ Yechezkel of Kuzmir zt’l

Keep your focus on those who have less than you.  This way you will constantly appreciate Hashem’s kindness and not consider that you are missing things.

Since people assess their wealth or poverty according to what they see others have, you are assured a happy life if you keep comparing what you have with those who are less fortunate.  ~ R’ Chaim Shmuelevitz zt”l

I would not wish to change places with our forefather, Avraham. For what would the Almighty gain from this?  If Avraham would be me and I would be him, there would be no additional righteousness in the world. My goal is to improve my own behavior. ~ R’ Simcha Bunim of Parshischo

The only difference between where you are and where you want to be is the steps you haven’t taken yet.

Simcha, happiness, is a decision, not an emotion. Simcha is the result of focusing on what is there, not what is missing, on the blessings, not the challenges, on everything being by design from Above, not random or chance. ~ R’ Efrem Goldberg

If someone is too tired to give you a smile, leave one of your own, because no one needs a smile as much as those who have none to give. ~ R’ Samson Rephael Hirsch zt”l