The Rizhiner’s daughter once sighed, and her father admonished her:
“When you sigh, Hashem says,
‘You think this is bad? I will show you what’s bad.’
And when a person is happy, Hashem replies,
‘You think your life is good? I will show you what is good.’”
People asked R’ Shimon Maryles of Yareslov zt’l, who was niftar at age 91:
“How did you merit to live so long?”
He replied, “It’s because I never asked questions. When a person asks questions about how Hashem leads the
world, Heaven replies, ‘Come up! From here you will see that everything is for the good.’
I never ask questions, so I wasn’t called to Shomayim to receive answers.”
~ Ohel Shimon
Every person is a revelation of God, which has never been before, because every person has something of God, which nobody else ever had.
I have something that Abraham didn’t have. I have something that Moses didn’t have.
If you serve God like somebody else, then you needn’t have been born. They did it already.
~ R’ Shlomo Carlebach zt”l
Hashem does not challenge man with something he cannot handle.
~ R’ Ezra Attiya zt”l
If the yetzer hara tells you to commit an aveirah, think: “Perhaps Hashem is testing me now as He tested Avraham Avinu. Perhaps this is one of the key tests of my life.”
When a person knows he is being tested, he will be very vigilant and pass the test. Think such thoughts…because Hakadosh Baruch Hu sends challenges to test people. Fortunate is the person who always thinks about Hashem.
~ The Shlah
The same way that parents only grow into their role by actual parenting – because one cannot learn parenting without having children – writers grow by writing, and leaders grow only by leading.
We don’t grow by sitting back and saying, “When will I be ready?”
We grow by having the courage to step into those shoes that we’re scared to step into, because that’s what Hashem calls on us to do.
That is the process of becoming great.
~ R’ YY Jacobson
Every person is made better through others.
Since each individual has unique qualities that others may lack, the understanding that, together, we form one whole allows us all to complement and perfect one another.
~ R’ Schneur Zalman of Liadi zt”l
The Abarbanel teaches us that Klal Yisroel are compared to stars because like a star shines in the night…So too, even in the dark moments and difficult times, a Yid still shines bright!
Be very happy, and treasure everything you do in the service of Hashem.
Think, “I wouldn’t trade this merit for all the money in the world!”
This applies even to a single good word, thought, or deed. Though it may take only a moment, it is never lost; it will accomplish great things for you and perhaps for the entire Jewish nation.
What greater joy is there than fulfilling the purpose of creation? Do whatever you can—whether big or small—as people say, “Whatever you take from the marketplace is worthwhile.”
~ The Beis Aharon zt”l
The proper path to serving Hashem is not to rely on external inspiration, as this is only temporary.
Rather, personal, daily, and consistent motivation—through contemplating your service to Hashem—is the true path.
~ Rabeinu Yona, Pirkei Avos, 1, 14.
Emuna Daily 