Strengthening One’s Faith in a Time of Troubles
- The Sefer Hachaimi, written by the Maharal’s brother, writes
that there are people חרדים לדבר ד’ and despising the ארץ העמים for whom the
joy they feel in anticipation of the coming of the Redeemer is not as great as
it might be because they realize that it will be an awesome and terrible time,
a time of war throughout the world, a time of חבלי משיח. But it is only their
lack of faith which diminishes their joy, for they do not believe that the
redeemed of G-d will be spared all fears and troubles. Regarding this, Chazal
said that when a person is judged in the next world, the first question he is
asked is, "Did you await the coming of the Redemption?" There are few, even
among those who are on a high spiritual level, who await the Redeemer with
hearts filled with joy. - The
Ramchal writes in his book, Ma’amar Hageula, that when wisdom becomes
widespread, everyone will realize the great things that G-d has done for us.
At those times when the Jewish People thought that G-d had abandoned them and
hidden His Face from them, He was actually preparing great blessings,
blessings of a magnitude which cannot be measured, blessings without end. - Rabbeinu
Yona writes in his commentary on Pirkei Avos (1:15) that G-d promised
Avraham Avinu to avenge the suffering of the Jewish people with two words:
דן אנוכי, and redeemed them wonders and miracles. The future redemption has
been promised with pages and books filled with His promises and words of
consolation: the books of Yermiyahu, Yishayahu, Yechezkel and the thirteen
prophetic writings. From this we can infer the great number of wonders and
miracles that G-d will perform in the future redemption of Israel. A person
should take this to heart and consider the great reward that he will receive
for placing his trust in G-d.
