Faith in Everyday Delays: How to Turn Life’s Setbacks Into Spiritual Growth

Shimon was a work manager who loved order and precision. One of his workers, named Levi, had arrived late to work several times. Shimon, the manager, warned Levi once, twice, three times, and after the lateness problem repeated itself, Shimon said to him:

“Look, this cannot go on under any circumstances. From tomorrow, if you arrive late to work again, I have plenty of replacements for you…” Levi heard the warning with dread and decided: That’s it, from tomorrow I will make sure to arrive on time.

What Faith Looks Like When Plans Fall Apart

The next day, Levi woke up early, prayed earlier than usual, returned home, and quickly ate breakfast to ensure he wouldn’t be late for work. He left his house with enough time to comfortably arrive at work on schedule.

But when he went to into his car, it wouldn’t start. In panic, Levi tried to check the problem from every angle, but nothing worked. He began to feel anxious, sensing the hand of the Satan trying to inflame him with anger and rage: “Of all times, why now? Why did the car have to stop working now, exactly when I’m under pressure and threatened with being fired?”

As a man of faith, Levi said to himself: “I see that the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to test me, to see if I will accept this event with love and willingness.” He left his car, stopped struggling with frustrated efforts, hailed a passing taxi, and arrived at work on time, thank God.

The duty of a person of faith, is not to fight against reality. Reality is decreed by the Supreme God. One should not stubbornly insist on his own will but rather “nullify your will before His will.” In every act of restraint like this, and in similar situations, how much delight a person brings to his Creator! In this, he also fulfills his purpose — for the purpose of man is to accept the events of his life with love and willingness.

Effort vs. Outcome: Your Role Ends Where Providence Begins

How often does it happen that a person hurries to work, or to an important meeting — perhaps a business deal that will bring profit, or related to buying a home or car, and if he is late, the deal may fall through. Exactly then, he is confronted with traffic jams and heavy congestion. At such a tense time, he must remain calm and believe: “What God desires, He will do. My role is only effort, beyond that I am not obligated. I will never truly lose out from this. No one can accuse me of laziness or neglect. So if despite all this the deal or the meeting falls through, it is simply a decree of the Supreme God, who seeks my true good.”

When a person is in a rush, but a document is lost, his keys are misplaced, he cannot find the right clothing, the shirt isn’t ironed, he notices a stain on his suit that needs cleaning, or a button is missing from his coat and requires repair — these are all tests from Heaven. “The Lord tests the righteous.” God could have prevented these delays by natural means, but He deliberately arranges such delays for the individual. This is not to torment him, God forbid, nor to anger him, as God is good.

Every deprivation is a challenge to elevate us, if we respond with the proper reaction of faith. Suffering is not for punishment, but to test how we will respond to the frustrating event. 

Our mission in this world is defined by how we respond to the absence of our needs. One who withstands such tests, is the true hero.