Salvation Comes Unexpectedly

Salvation from Hashem Can Happen in an Instant

There are many instances where we face ongoing issues and, out of despair and lack of hope for finding a solution, we decide to let go, give up, and move on with our lives. Then, surprisingly, salvation comes. The more a person is anxious and worried about their situation and wants to see their aspiration realized, not only do they not move toward a solution, but the opposite occurs - the solution distances itself, the problem becomes more complicated, and they do not see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Sh. Matityahu from Tel Aviv Shares:

"After my third child entered kindergarten, I finally decided that I needed to go to work. Financial issues, thank God, were not my concern, but sitting at home doing nothing was not one of my hobbies. I resolved in my heart to find a job that wasn't hard but interesting, during the morning hours until noon, as I needed to return home to welcome my children. I also wanted the workplace to be conveniently located close to my home. Another important detail: I had no certificate or experience in any field. I began a job search marathon, trying everything. From buying the daily newspaper to scrutinizing the classifieds every day, to asking all family members, friends, and acquaintances for any job leads. As you can imagine, I came up empty-handed. No employer wanted to hire a mother with children, who had so many conditions, no certificate, and also wanted an easy and enjoyable job. After many months spent "visiting" various managers for interviews, I began to understand that this race was futile and that I should withdraw from the marathon. I registered for various courses at the local community center in hopes that they would satisfy me. Two weeks later, I found an ad in the newspaper inviting women to interview for a job at a certain office located on a street near my home. The job appealed to me greatly, and despite the slim chances, I decided to go to the interview. It turns out I arrived two hours early, but when the manager saw me, he decided to interview me right then, and it ended in signing a work contract. It turned out that when the CEO realized I had come before the appointed time, he decided not to waste much time on interviews and hired me. I got the job exactly as I dreamed it, meeting all my requirements, all this only after I'd given up hope of finding work." The central question is, how does one let go of a troubling issue that haunts us daily and never leaves us alone? After all, one cannot simply decide to ignore something tangible like unemployment or someone seeking a partner for a long time with no success. Likewise with children, marital peace, etc. It's hard to ignore these and continue life as usual when you must deal with these problems daily. To reach a state of distraction from the problem or to change a certain situation and achieve our goal, we must stop constantly dwelling on the problem and attempt to imagine its solution. When we deal with the solution, we see our aspirations coming true, and the negative situation we are in becomes positive. We are no longer tense, and our stress level reduces because positive thinking improves our personal feelings. Then we begin to feel confidence. The moment we have confidence in Hashem and complete faith that the solution will come, we can see success manifest right before our eyes. There is a well-known story about a rich man who lost all his wealth. One day, in a particularly bad situation, he wondered how he could help himself. An idea came to him: to seek help from a wealthy friend. He went to his friend's luxurious house, but the guards stopped him at the gate, seeing he was dressed like a poor man. The man decided to sit outside by the fence and wait patiently until his friend left the house. He sat for an hour and then two and even three hours until night fell, and he became very discouraged. Then, at that moment of despair, a maid opened a window on the second floor and emptied a trash can over his head. The man got up, completely heartbroken and disappointed. He shook off the dirt that clung to his clothes and began to walk away. Suddenly, while cleaning his clothes, he discovered a precious stone among the trash that had been thrown on him! The man was overjoyed and went home. For several months he lived in plenty and wealth, but then the wheel turned, and he again returned to living in hunger. This time, without hesitation, he went to his rich friend’s house and sat patiently by the fence and waited. He sat for one hour and then another, yet nothing happened. A beggar he knew passed by and asked, "What are you looking for here? People don’t pass here, and no one gives charity." The man told the beggar about his experience and finding the precious stone. The beggar replied, "Last time, you weren’t expecting to find the precious stone, so you received it. This time, because you anticipate it, there is no chance that a precious stone will roll your way in the same fashion." Hence, we learned that salvation comes unexpectedly. Only when a person distracts themselves from the issue and the heavy pressure they feel about fulfilling their wish does salvation come. We have heard countless stories about women who never gave birth, and shortly after adopting a child, gave birth to their own.

How Does Salvation Come?

The Gemara states: "Anyone who forces the matter on time, time forces back on them, and anyone who yields to time, time yields to them." (Tractate Berakhot 64a) The Sages teach us that there is a spiritual law in the world. A tense person who wants to have their desires fulfilled "here and now" is essentially closing off the possibilities to have their heart’s wishes. They demand what they think they deserve and place themselves at the center of the world. At these moments, Heavenly forces delay their salvation to test their trust in Hashem. If they are patient and willing to change their approach and understand that life isn’t managed according to their desires but at the pace set by Hashem, they will obtain what they want. Hashem is the one who manages affairs, and only when a person realizes there is no reason whatsoever to be stressed, then - "anyone who yields to time, time yields to them." The moment we feel patient and calm, completely trusting that Hashem will fulfill all our desires for good, salvation will come.

T. Slovatitzky from Rishon LeZion Shares:

"Five years after my marriage, I still hadn’t had the blessing to embrace my own child. My husband and I ran from one clinic to another and visited numerous doctors, but to no avail. After consulting a specialist who performed several tests, he turned to me with regret and said: "I’m sorry, but there is a very slim chance you will be able to have your own child." I was shocked. After so many treatments, I didn't believe I would hear such bad news in the end. A few weeks later, I attended a positive thinking course and was guided to distract my mind from the issue, which, as you can imagine, deeply worried and saddened me. I started to occupy my mind and imagination with my great aspiration for a child. I saw myself in the maternity ward, surrounded by family and friends, flowers and balloons filling every corner of the room, holding a small baby in my arms. This thought continued to accompany me throughout the day. I felt calmer and more peaceful. Shortly after, I became pregnant, and nine months later, we joyfully welcomed a daughter! After the birth, several doctors came to my room and told me, "Know that today a medical miracle occurred here! Naturally, the chances of you giving birth were very low!" Distracting my mind from the problem, and the calm and peace I felt, caused the miracle to happen. Salvation came only after I had distracted my mind from the issue."

"For Your salvation, we hoped and anticipated all day," explains the Chida, pointing these words towards the coming of our righteous Messiah. Each of us should aim for the expectation and realization of our own personal salvation.

How to Achieve Our Aspirations and Solve Our Problems

First and foremost, we must use the power of prayer (speech). Let us pray and ask that, with Hashem's help, all our heart's desires be fulfilled for good. Secondly, our thoughts should always be positive. We must not dwell on solving the problem, nor on the problem itself. We can do this by imagining the positive outcome of our aspiration or the resolution of the problem we want to achieve. Positive thinking will cause us to feel calm and peaceful, enhancing our trust in Hashem. In this way, we can distract ourselves from the problem and not feel stressed, and with Hashem’s help, we will see it manifest in our reality. "You shall know today and take it to heart" (Deuteronomy 4:39). To take it to heart truly and to feel the trust in Hashem deeply, we need to strengthen our thoughts through speech and imagination, in good and useful things.