Secrets of the Universe | Rabbi Yussie Zakutinsky

R’ Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin writes in his Sefer Tzidkas HaTzaddik a famous line. Just as a Jew has to believe in Hashem, so, too, after that, you have to believe in yourself. What does it mean to believe in oneself? To believe in what exactly? So I'll tell you a Ma’aseh. There was once a Yid that he was in a desperate need for Chizuk. He was having a hard time with Shidduchim, and he decided he needed to go to a big Tzaddik to get some strength. So he visited R’ Noson Breslever, the great student of R’ Nachman, R’ Noson Breslever. And so, R’ Noson hears the issue that he's struggling with, with Shidduchim, and R’ Noson says: Listen, Yankel, you know, Yaakov Avinu also had difficulties with Shidduchim. You know, Rochel and Leah and so on. You know, you're not alone. So this Yid said: Rebbe, Yaakov Avinu? Yaakov Avinu’s whole life was secrets of Torah, secrets of the universe. The entire history of the world was hanging in the balance, in every decision Yaakov Avinu made, in particular in the עניין of Shidduchim with Rochel and Leah. You're comparing that to me? What does my life have to do with Yaakov Avinu? R’ Noson told him: You should know that just as Yaakov Avinu's life was full of secrets of Torah and mysteries of the universe and every single action and decision that he made in his path to develop the family was crucial to the entire universe and to the purpose of creation, that's exactly how it is in your life, as well. The difference is he knew it and you don't. You know, very often we go through life and we have certain struggles and certain challenges, and we think to ourselves, in the back of our mind, there's a thought that creeps in, which is, What's the purpose of all of this? If I knew that my efforts were standing at the pinnacle of the universe, that the whole world was hanging in the balance based on my decisions, I would have the strength to deal with them. But who says? You know, I'm just a regular guy. R’ Noson is telling each and every one of us, Just as Yaakov Avinu’s life was full of secrets of Torah and secrets of the universe, and everything depended on every single choice that he made, that's exactly how it goes with us, as well. And that's the Chizuk that R’ Tzadok is telling us. What does it mean to believe in oneself? So R’ Tzadok then goes on to say that belief in oneself means to believe that the Ribono shel Olam is involved in your life, no different than he's involved in the lives of the greatest Tzaddikim, and even the Avos HaKedoshim themselves. By believing and knowing that our experiences, our challenges, our Nisyonos, our obstacles are secrets of Torah and secrets of the universe no different than Yaakov Avinu, we'll find the strength to not just overcome challenges, but to persevere and to excel in this world and to become the Tzaddikim that the Ribono shel Olam envisioned us to become, and B’ezer Hashem we’re going to be.