The Gemara in Berachos (60b) teaches that a person should accustom himself to constantly repeat verbally: “Kol mah d’avid Rachmana l’tav avid” — “Everything that Hashem does, He does for the good.” This Gemara is carried forward to the Shulchan Aruch and is a halachah.
Chazal specifically use the Name “Rachmana,” a Name that reflects Hashem’s boundless mercy, love, and compassion. The message, then, is even deeper: Everything that Hashem does, He does for our benefit with love and compassion. This is true not only when His kindness is obvious and openly revealed, but even when we are utterly unable to comprehend how the events unfolding before us could possibly be for our good.
At times of pain, confusion, or struggle, one of the most comforting and uplifting pesukim in our daily tefilos can be found in “Mizmor Shir Chanukas HaBayis L’Dovid,” which we recite each morning at the beginning of Pesukei D’Zimra (Tehillim 30):
“Ki rega b’apo, chaim b’retzono, ba’erev yalin bechi, v’laboker rinah.”
“For His anger lasts but a moment; in His Ratzon is life. One may lie down at evening weeping, but by morning there is joyous song.”
This pasuk reveals an extraordinarily powerful perspective on suffering and challenge. There are times when, individually or collectively, we may feel as though Hashem is “angry” with us. Hashem’s true ratzon — His constant Desire throughout every circumstance — is “chaim,” life. Not merely physical existence, but true life: that which is ultimately best for our eternal souls and everlasting good.
Human beings see only fragments of the picture. We experience moments, while Hashem sees eternity. In the darkness of pain, loss, fear, or uncertainty, we may go to sleep in tears, unable to understand why events are unfolding as they are. Yet the pasuk promises that eventually there will be “rinah” — joyous song. Sometimes we merit to see the goodness and purpose already in this world. At other times, clarity may only come in the World to Come. But ultimately, when the full truth is revealed, we will recognize that even the events over which we cried so bitterly were orchestrated by Hashem with perfect wisdom, love, and compassion for our ultimate benefit. At that time, our pain itself will become transformed into gratitude and song.
How precious, then, is the opportunity we are given every single day. As we recite these words during davening, we are training ourselves to live with emunah, trust, and a deeper awareness of Hashem’s loving Hashgacha. Day after day, these pesukim invite us to internalize the life-changing truth that everything Hashem does is being done with endless wisdom, power, kindness, and love, for our eternal good.
The following is an excerpt from The Fragrance of Life (by Rabbi David Steinhaus):
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev ztf”l was known as the “advocate of Am Yisrael,” constantly pleading to Hashem in their favor in his prayers. Despite this, he used to tell people who had difficulties in life:
We think that if the heavenly decisions were in our hands, we would make a pleasant and happy world and would arrange for everyone to receive everything they are lacking. The truth is that if we were in charge, we would run the world in exactly the same way as Hashem! If we could see where everything is leading, we would realize that Hashem is arranging everything in the best possible way. We would not forgo our problems for all the money in the world! (Yalkut Lekach Tov, Emunah Unechama, page 110)
You can direct any questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
