Patience as Keter

PATIENCE

Sometimes when people don't want to suffer a little, they end up suffering a lot! 

Siach Sarfey Kodesh I, 6 

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When to push, when to wait 

When you just can't fall asleep, it's no use trying to force yourself to sleep. The more you try to force yourself, the more sleep will elude you. The same applies to many other things: it is not good to force yourself too much, because the more you try to force yourself, the stronger the opposing forces will become. 

At times this applies even to prayer and devotion. You should certainly make every possible effort to sanctify yourself and attain true devotion. When something can be done today, don't leave it for tomorrow - because the world never stops for a moment. Man's world consists only of the present. Whatever you can do to serve God, do immediately and determinedly without delay. Who knows what obstacles you may face from the outside and from within if you leave it until later? 

But at times you may see that, despite all your efforts and determination, you simply cannot achieve what you want. Sometimes you must simply wait. Don't be discouraged because you are not achieving what you want. Don't let this push you off course. You must wait a little until the time is ripe. 

The most important thing of all is to look to God at all times with longing and yearning, even when things are not going as well as you would like in your prayers and devotions. Never despair, no matter what. And as soon as God gives you the opportunity to do something holy, do it at once. 

Chayey Moharan #431 

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The problem contains its own solution 

"In my distress you relieved me." (Psalms 4:2) 

Even in times of trouble, whatever God sends , He sends in such a way that the trouble itself contains the salvation. Keep your eyes open for God's love and mercy! If you look carefully you will see that even when God sends you trouble, He is still helping you . He actually helps you by means of the very trouble itself, treating you with tremendous kindness all along. 

Thus King David said: "In my distress you relieved me" (Psalms 4:2) . You have helped me by means of the very trouble itself! 

Of course we want our troubles to be over and we hope and trust that God will quickly save us from all of them and bring us great good. Yet even now, while our troubles are still tormenting us, God is helping us. 

Likutey Moharan I, 195