If you are a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that there is a struggle afoot. I am certainly not the only one, and I know that there are many worse off than I am, but that does not give me comfort. Nor should it… our problems are our problems and while there will almost always be someone better off and someone worse, each person’s personal issues can seem insurmountable and huge.

While we need to be aware of all that is around us, and be able to put things into their proper perspective, we also need to find a path and a way out… find things to do to right the ship and get back to a place of joy and happiness.

So how do we find peace and faith in the face of adversity?A friend of mine who is dealing with some major health issues told me this… “This is an opportunity for you to become more resilient and steadfast in your commitment to Hashem… Put your trust in HIM… He will steer you in the right direction and give you the strength you need and peace of mind you seek…”

I so needed those words… and right when he sent them. Thank you soooo much, Daniel! And believe me, I will be “picking” his brain more as I need to know how he is able to be this strong and resolute while he deals with things I can only imagine. It makes me feel a bit weak and pathetic at times, but like I said… our problems seem huge to US. For me, it really gets tricky when things seem NOT to change… when there does not seem to be an answer or fix from Hashem.

Perhaps He is pushing in order to have me figure it out for myself. I get that, but still… “Cast your burden upon Hashem and He will support you.” I am casting.

I look to my prayers… I ask for things… I plea…

I look to the lessons and writings… and find things like what I will share…

But is it that I have not put ENOUGH trust in Him? Can I go further? Of course, we could ALL go further but is that really it?

Jeremiah wrote, “He shall be like a tree planted by waters, sending forth its roots by a stream: It does not sense the coming of heat, its leaves are ever fresh; it has no care in a year of drought, it does not cease to yield fruit” (Jeremiah 17:8)

That is a pretty amazing way of looking at Hashem and the never-ending and awesome power He has. If Jeremiah could write this while facing the destruction of the Temple, surely I can have more trust and faith.

I look to the Psalms…

Psalm 20: “For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
May the Lord answer you on the day of distress; may the Name of the God of Jacob fortify you.
May He send your help from the Sanctuary, and support you from Zion.
May He remember all your offerings, and always accept favorably your sacrifices.
May He grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill your every counsel.
We will rejoice in your deliverance, and raise our banners in the name of our God; may the Lord fulfill all your wishes.
Now I know that the Lord has delivered His anointed one, answering him from His holy heavens with the mighty saving power of His right hand.
Some [rely] upon chariots and some upon horses, but we [rely upon and] invoke the Name of the Lord our God.
They bend and fall, but we rise and stand firm.
Lord, deliver us; may the King answer us on the day we call.”

It’s all right there… all over our prayers and our Siddurs… in the liturgy and Psalms… I just need to find it in myself… and put my full trust in HIM. I am willing to put it all out there… to dig deep and go deeper… to connect and trust Hashem. Stay tuned.