Someone once asked the Kotzker Rebbe, “Where is Hashem to be found?” He responded, “Where is G-d to be found? In the place where He is given entry!”
In T’hilim, David HaMelech says, “How long, Hashem, will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your Face; [I know] it’s from me!”
Hashem is always right there with us – through the good times and the difficult ones. If we don’t recognize Hashem’s guiding Hand behind the things that happen to us, it’s because in those areas we’re not letting Him in.
The events and occurrences that happen to us are all Hashem’s messengers. This applies to every single experience we have – whether the experience is an external one or it’s something that we’re going through internally. If I am having issues with my parents, siblings, spouse, friends, neighbors, or co-workers, or I’m feeling a distressful emotion in response to something I saw or heard, it means Hashem is trying to tell me that over here I’m not letting Him in.
This recognition is the most important prerequisite for receiving and fulfilling the Torah. Every time a person is faced with an experience that “moves” him, and he gets the message, takes a small step back and brings Hashem in – even in the smallest of ways – he is able to receive a portion of the Torah in that area. This leads to a higher understanding and connection to Hashem that then brings him to an even greater level of emunah. He then repeats this process at his new level.
Hashem put each one of us in this world in order that we fulfill our unique portion of the Torah. For this reason, we daven: “and give us our portion in the Torah.”
Every Jew has his or her own portion of the Torah and avodas Hashem, that only he or she can light up. Hashem gave us, and continues to give us, all the tools, experiences, and situations we need in order to accomplish this task.
It is important to remember that if an experience comes along and causes you to react, it’s because Hashem wants something from you. There’s a little piece of Torah waiting for you to come along and receive it.
(Material was previously published on www.ShiratMiriam.com.)
