Faith and Miracles: How Trust in God Brings Unexpected Blessings

A Jew once approached me who wanted to produce CDs to strengthen people’s faith and trust in God. He couldn’t find the funding for the project and asked me what to do. I answered: “Is anything too difficult for God?” If your whole purpose is to spread God’s name in the world, and everything is in His hands, turn to Him.

At that very moment, another Jew joined the conversation and asked what we were discussing. I explained: “This righteous man here wants to inspire people, but he doesn’t have enough money.” The man asked him, “How much do you need?” He replied, “One thousand five hundred shekels.” Immediately, the man took out his wallet and handed him the full amount. In that moment, I wanted to kiss the Creator and cry out with all my strength: “Is anything too difficult for God?”

The Lesson of the Four Mothers

The Jewish people were born from four mothers — Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. The Talmud says that all of them were barren. One might ask: for such a great and precious nation, why would it be born specifically from barren women? God wanted to teach Israel, for all generations, that even from four barren women He could bring forth an entire nation.

A Kiss From God

Over a decade ago, when I was still a simple kollel student, I and my family found ourselves in very difficult financial straits. We had debts to friends and relatives, and our situation was so severe that my wife and I considered leaving Torah study to go work.

When I realized where I stood, I first turned to God in prayer: “My Father in Heaven, please do not sever me from the love of my life, which is the holy Torah.” Around that time I came across Chovot HaLevavot (Duties of the Heart), specifically the section on trust in God. As I studied it, my smile returned, and joy came back to my heart. I realized that I was blocking my own blessings with my thoughts, because I didn’t fully believe that God could provide all my needs at any moment, regardless of our efforts. God’s power is not dependent on how much I toil or how little I toil for livelihood.

At some point, I began to train my mind to believe that God is all-powerful and could send me envelopes of money in any way — through the mail, left at my door, or deposited directly into my bank account. My rational mind objected: “How will you get money? No one knows you, and even those who know you don’t know your needs. Who exactly is going to send you money?” Then I understood that this so-called “rational thinking” was actually a form of disbelief. God’s power is beyond all logic and beyond the limitations of nature. With Him there are no barriers.

It is not easy to change thought patterns that you’ve been accustomed to for over thirty years, but I knew that if I accepted the absolute truth, nothing can prevent God from granting me my heart’s desires, and I would merit to see results that defy reason. I decided to wait for money from Him in any possible way, even in ways that seemed “unrealistic”.

The first morning, I opened the door of my home looking for an envelope. The evil inclination immediately attacked: “Stop with your nonsense. Go get a job.” (Not that I belittle work, God forbid, but my soul yearned for Torah.) I went back to Chovot HaLevavot.

The second morning, I opened the door and found an envelope stuck to it. On it was written: “To Yigal Cohen, Shabbat Shalom.” I couldn’t wait until after morning prayers, and I opened it immediately. Inside was one thousand dollars. In that moment, I felt as though God Himself had kissed me, whispering: “I am with you. Just believe in Me, and you will receive everything.” From then on, I understood that the greatest effort I must invest in life is not in chasing other things, but in strengthening my faith in the Creator.

I know this may sound strange, but before dismissing it, try it. Give God the opportunity to show you. Believe in Him with simple, pure faith, and stop questioning His ability.

A Home Without a Mortgage?!

A kollel student once donated five hundred shekels to the beit midrash. I asked him, “Do you own a home?” He replied, “No, I rent an apartment.” I blessed him: “May God grant you a spacious, beautiful home without any debts — not even a mortgage.” I saw the look of surprise on his face.

I asked, “Why are you surprised?” He answered, “I don’t even have the first down payment for a house, and you bless me with owning one debt-free?” I replied: “Let’s think about this together. Does God have enough money for you to buy a home without a mortgage? All of it is in God’s hands, and with His will, He can transfer it wherever He wants. He could easily send you enough for a nice apartment in Bnei Brak.”

The student understood the message and asked me to bless him again — this time, answering amen with full intention.