Accepting Suffering with Love A person must receive everything in a spirit of love, even when God sends him suffering that appears to be evil. He must realize that all that God does with him expresses infinite compassion. However, when one’s sins have blunted his heart, he cannot feel God’s love. Instead, he questions God’s good and straight attributes. Therefore, he must ask God to protect him and rescue him from every type of perverseness in his heart, so that he will always know that God is righteous, His judgments are true, and, in the context of a person’s evil, blemished deeds, God treats him with infinite kindness. Everything God Does Expresses His Kindness “Fortunate is the person whom You chastise, God, and whom You teach from Your Torah, to grant him respite from the days of evil while a pit is dug for the wicked; for HaShem will not forsake His nation, nor will He abandon His inheritance.”
Master of the world, You are filled with compassion. You are good and do good to all. Help me and save me so that I will receive everything in a spirit of love.
Open my heart with great holiness so that I will know and understand that for a person such as myself, who has acted against You, all that You do with me is great, infinite compassion and kindness.
It is impossible to elucidate and express the multitude of the compassion and favors that You have done with me, that You do with me, and that You will do with me at every moment.
Sin Blunts Our Appreciation of God’s Kindness But what can I do? My sins have blunted my heart, and perverted my mind and my heart, until I cannot feel Your love in my heart.
Therefore, I have come to plead before You so that You will be filled with compassion for me, and You will guard me and rescue me from every type of perverseness in my heart.
Strengthen my heart and mind in Your holy faith so that I will always know and understand that You are righteous, HaShem, that Your judgments are true, and that in the context of my evil, blemished deeds, You treat me with tremendous kindness and infinite compassion.
In Your compassion and kindness, have pity and mercy on me. Guard me and rescue me from every type of evil and trouble, and from all sufferings in the world, because You are compassionate and greatly forgiving.
In accordance with the gravity and multitude of my sins, all sufferings in the world would not suffice, Heaven forbid, to rectify even the slightest sin (or blemish). Nevertheless, Your compassion has preceded me, and You can forgive me without any suffering at all.
As the verses state, “With You is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.” “With HaShem is kindness, and much redemption is with Him; He will redeem Israel from all of its sins.”
Therefore, I stretch my hands out to You, Master of compassion: have compassion on me and guard my soul. Rescue me from every type of evil and trouble, and from all suffering in the world.
As for whatever I must receive by means of Your compassion and true kindness, HaShem, You Who are good and do good, please treat me wondrously for the sake of my life. Help me and save me so that I will receive everything with complete love.
Do not send me any suffering without helping me, in Your supernal holiness, to truly accept it with complete love and without even beginning to question You at all.
Have compassion on me for Your sake. May I not spurn any suffering. Give me the power and knowledge to accept it with love, when in Your true compassion You desire to cause me to suffer out of love, “as a man punishes his son.”
In Your vast compassion, ease my suffering in every way in the world because I am weak and poor, my mind is flawed, and I do not have the ability and mindfulness to accept any suffering at all.
Treat me in accordance with Your kindness. “Be gracious to me, God, in accordance with Your kindness; in Your great compassion, erase my transgressions.” “In accordance with Your kindness, give me life, and I will guard the testimony of Your mouth.” “HaShem, do not rebuke me in Your anger and do not chastise me in Your wrath.”
You Who are filled with compassion, align my will with Your will, so that I will nullify my will entirely before Your will. May I have no will of my own. May my entire will be that everything should be in accordance with Your will, from now and forever. Amen, selah.
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה קס"ה - וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ אֲנִי ה']
אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר תְּיַסְּרֶנּוּ יָהּ וּמִתּוֹרָתְךָ תְלַמְּדֶנּוּ. לְהַשְׁקִיט לוֹ מִימֵי רָע עַד יִכָּרֶה לָרָשָׁע שָׁחַת. כִּי לֹא יִטֹּשׁ יְהֹוָה עַמּוֹ וְנַחֲלָתוֹ לֹא יַעֲזֹב.
Accepting Suffering with Love
A person must receive everything in a spirit of love, even when God sends him suffering that appears to be evil. He must realize that all that God does with him expresses infinite compassion.
However, when one’s sins have blunted his heart, he cannot feel God’s love. Instead, he questions God’s good and straight attributes.
Therefore, he must ask God to protect him and rescue him from every type of perverseness in his heart, so that he will always know that God is righteous, His judgments are true, and, in the context of a person’s evil, blemished deeds, God treats him with infinite kindness.
Everything God Does Expresses His Kindness
“Fortunate is the person whom You chastise, God, and whom You teach from Your Torah, to grant him respite from the days of evil while a pit is dug for the wicked; for HaShem will not forsake His nation, nor will He abandon His inheritance.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל, עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל הַכֹּל בְּאַהֲבָה,
Master of the world, You are filled with compassion. You are good and do good to all. Help me and save me so that I will receive everything in a spirit of love.
וַאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁאַתָּה שׁוֹלֵחַ עָלַי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ לִפְעָמִים אֵיזֶה יִסּוּרִין הַנִּדְמִים לְרָעוֹת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, אֶזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּל הַכֹּל בְּאַהֲבָה גְּדוֹלָה בֶּאֱמֶת,
Even when You send me some suffering that appears to be evil, Heaven forbid, may I receive it all with great love.
וְתִפְתַּח אֶת לִבִּי בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לֵידַע וּלְהָבִין בֶּאֱמֶת, אֲשֶׁר כָּמוֹנִי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאֲנִי הוּא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי נֶגְדְּךָ, כָּל מַה שֶּׁאַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה עִמִּי, הַכֹּל רַחֲמִים רַבִּים וַחֲסָדִים גְּדוֹלִים בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וָעֵרֶךְ עַד אֵין סוֹף וְאֵין תַּכְלִית,
Open my heart with great holiness so that I will know and understand that for a person such as myself, who has acted against You, all that You do with me is great, infinite compassion and kindness.
כִּי אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְבָאֵר וּלְסַפֵּר לְעוֹלָם עֹצֶם רִבּוּי הָרַחֲמָנוּת וְהַחֲסָדִים וְהַטּוֹבוֹת אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ עִמִּי, וַאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה עִמִּי, וַאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עָתִיד לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמִּי בְּכָל־עֵת וָרֶגַע.
It is impossible to elucidate and express the multitude of the compassion and favors that You have done with me, that You do with me, and that You will do with me at every moment.
מָה אוֹמַר מָה אֲדַבֵּר, מָה אָשִׁיב לַיהֹוָה כָּל תַּגְמוּלוֹהִי עָלָי.
What shall I say? How shall I speak? “How can I repay HaShem for all of His kindness to me?”
אַךְ מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה וַעֲוֹנוֹתַי טִמְטְמוּ אֶת לִבִּי וְעִקְּמוּ אֶת דַּעְתִּי וּלְבָבִי, עַד שֶׁאֵינִי זוֹכֶה לְהַרְגִּישׁ אַהֲבָתְךָ בְּלִבִּי,
Sin Blunts Our Appreciation of God’s Kindness
But what can I do? My sins have blunted my heart, and perverted my mind and my heart, until I cannot feel Your love in my heart.
אַף גַּם רוֹצִים לְהַטּוֹת אֶת לְבָבִי בְּכָל־עֵת לְהַרְהֵר אַחֲרֵי מִדּוֹתֶיךָ הַטּוֹבוֹת וְהַיְשָׁרוֹת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
My sins want to turn my heart aside to question Your good and straight attributes, Heaven forbid.
עַל כֵּן בָּאתִי לְהַפִּיל תְּחִנָּתִי לְפָנֶיךָ, שֶׁתִּמָּלֵא רַחֲמִים עָלַי. וְתִשְׁמְרֵנִי וְתַצִּילֵנִי מִכָּל מִינֵי עַקְמִימוּת שֶׁבַּלֵּב,
Therefore, I have come to plead before You so that You will be filled with compassion for me, and You will guard me and rescue me from every type of perverseness in my heart.
וּתְחַזֵּק אֶת לְבָבִי וְדַעְתִּי בֶּאֱמוּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה לֵידַע וּלְהַאֲמִין תָּמִיד, כִּי צַדִּיק אַתָּה יְהֹוָה וְיָשָׁר מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ. וּלְפִי מַעֲשַׂי הָרָעִים הַפְּגוּמִים אַתָּה מִתְנַהֵג עִמִּי בְּחֶסֶד גָּדוֹל וּבְרַחֲמִים רַבִּים בְּלִי שִׁעוּר.
Strengthen my heart and mind in Your holy faith so that I will always know and understand that You are righteous, HaShem, that Your judgments are true, and that in the context of my evil, blemished deeds, You treat me with tremendous kindness and infinite compassion.
וְאַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים, תָּחוֹס וְתַחְמֹל עָלַי וְתִשְׁמְרֵנִי וְתַצִּילֵנִי מִכָּל מִינֵי רָעוֹת וְצָרוֹת וּמִכָּל הַיִּסּוּרִין שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, כִּי אַתָּה חַנּוּן הַמַּרְבֶּה לִסְלֹחַ.
In Your compassion and kindness, have pity and mercy on me. Guard me and rescue me from every type of evil and trouble, and from all sufferings in the world, because You are compassionate and greatly forgiving.
וּלְפִי עֹצֶם וְרִבּוּי פְּשָׁעַי אֲשֶׁר כָּל הַיִּסּוּרִין שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם אֵינָם מַסְפִּיקִים חַס וְשָׁלוֹם לְתַקֵּן עָוֹן אֶחָד הַקַּל שֶׁבַּקַּלִּים בְּעֵרֶךְ עֲוֹנוֹתַי, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן רַחֲמֶיךָ יְקַדְּמוּנִי, כִּי אַתָּה יָכוֹל לִמְחֹל וְלִסְלֹחַ לִי בְּלִי שׁוּם יִסּוּרִים כְּלָל,
In accordance with the gravity and multitude of my sins, all sufferings in the world would not suffice, Heaven forbid, to rectify even the slightest sin (or blemish). Nevertheless, Your compassion has preceded me, and You can forgive me without any suffering at all.
כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, כִּי עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה לְמַעַן תִּוָּרֵא. וּכְתִיב, כִּי עִם יְהֹוָה הַחֶסֶד וְהַרְבֵּה עִמּוֹ פְדוּת וְהוּא יִפְדֶּה אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכֹּל עֲוֹנוֹתָיו.
As the verses state, “With You is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.” “With HaShem is kindness, and much redemption is with Him; He will redeem Israel from all of its sins.”
עַל כֵּן פֵּרַשְׂתִּי יָדַי אֵלֶיךָ בַּעַל הָרַחֲמִים, רַחֵם עָלַי וְשָׁמְרָה נַפְשִׁי וְהַצִּילֵנִי מִכָּל מִינֵי רָעוֹת וְצָרוֹת וּמִכָּל הַיִּסּוּרִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם,
Therefore, I stretch my hands out to You, Master of compassion: have compassion on me and guard my soul. Rescue me from every type of evil and trouble, and from all suffering in the world.
לֹא כַחֲטָאֵינוּ תַעֲשֶׂה לָנוּ וְלֹא כַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ תִגְמֹל עָלֵינוּ,
Do not treat me in accordance with my transgressions and sins. Be kind to me.
וּמַה שֶּׁאָנוּ מֻכְרָחִים לְקַבֵּל עַל פִּי דַרְכֵי רַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, אָנָּא יְהֹוָה, טוֹב וּמֵטִיב, עֲשֵׂה עִמָּנוּ פֶּלֶא לְחַיִּים, וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְקַבְּלָם בְּאַהֲבָה גְמוּרָה בֶּאֱמֶת,
As for whatever I must receive by means of Your compassion and true kindness, HaShem, You Who are good and do good, please treat me wondrously for the sake of my life. Help me and save me so that I will receive everything with complete love.
וְלֹא תִשְׁלַח עָלַי שׁוּם יִסּוּרִים כִּי אִם בְּעֵת אֲשֶׁר תַּעַזְרֵנִי בִּקְדֻשָּׁתְךָ הָעֶלְיוֹנָה שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְקַבְּלָם בְּאַהֲבָה גְמוּרָה בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלֹא אַתְחִיל לְהַרְהֵר אַחֲרֶיךָ כְּלָל,
Do not send me any suffering without helping me, in Your supernal holiness, to truly accept it with complete love and without even beginning to question You at all.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לָשׂוּם אָשָׁם נַפְשִׁי, וְאֶל אֵל אוֹמַר נָשָׂאתִי וְלֹא אֶחְבֹּל.
May I consider myself guilty and say to You, “I will bear it and I will not harm [myself].”
רַחֵם עָלַי לְמַעַנְךָ, וְלֹא אֶהְיֶה מְבַעֵט בְּיִסּוּרִים, רַק תִּתֶּן לִי כֹחַ וָדַעַת לְקַבְּלָם בְּאַהֲבָה בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּעֵת אֲשֶׁר תִּרְצֶה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים לְיַסְּרֵנִי בְּאַהֲבָה, כַּאֲשֶׁר יְיַסֵּר אִישׁ אֶת בְּנוֹ.
Have compassion on me for Your sake. May I not spurn any suffering. Give me the power and knowledge to accept it with love, when in Your true compassion You desire to cause me to suffer out of love, “as a man punishes his son.”
וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, תָּקֵל מֵעָלַי הַיִּסּוּרִים בְּכָל הַקַּלִּים (הַקֻּלּוֹת) שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, כִּי כֹחִי חָלָשׁ וָדַל וְדַעְתִּי פְּגוּמָה, וְאֵין לִי שׁוּם כֹּחַ וָדַעַת לְקַבֵּל יִסּוּרִים כְּלָל.
In Your vast compassion, ease my suffering in every way in the world because I am weak and poor, my mind is flawed, and I do not have the ability and mindfulness to accept any suffering at all.
כְּחַסְדְּךָ עֲשֵׂה עִמִּי, חָנֵּנִי אֱלֹהִים כְּחַסְדֶּךָ כְּרֹב רַחֲמֶיךָ מְחֵה פְשָׁעָי. כְּחַסְדְּךָ חַיֵּנִי וְאֶשְׁמְרָה עֵדוּת פִּיךָ. יְהֹוָה אַל בְּאַפְּךָ תוֹכִיחֵנִי וְאַל בַּחֲמָתְךָ תְיַסְּרֵנִי.
Treat me in accordance with Your kindness. “Be gracious to me, God, in accordance with Your kindness; in Your great compassion, erase my transgressions.” “In accordance with Your kindness, give me life, and I will guard the testimony of Your mouth.” “HaShem, do not rebuke me in Your anger and do not chastise me in Your wrath.”
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, עֲשֵׂה רְצוֹנִי כִּרְצוֹנְךָ, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְבַטֵּל רְצוֹנִי לְגַמְרֵי מִפְּנֵי רְצוֹנְךָ וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לִי שׁוּם רָצוֹן שֶׁל עַצְמִי כְּלָל, רַק כָּל רְצוֹנִי יִהְיֶה, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַכֹּל כִּרְצוֹנְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם, אָמֵן סֶלָה:
You Who are filled with compassion, align my will with Your will, so that I will nullify my will entirely before Your will. May I have no will of my own. May my entire will be that everything should be in accordance with Your will, from now and forever. Amen, selah.