The Rebbe once quoted the verse, “Be strong and brave, all who hope in God”194The verse is actually, “Be strong and let your hearts be brave.” The expression, “Be strong and brave,” as quoted here, is from Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 10:25, and II Chronicles 32:7. (Psalms 31:25). The Rebbe stressed, “all who hope in God.”
You may not be worthy of holiness or devotion. But you can still hope. In this way, you can be “strong and brave.” No matter what happens, never let anything discourage you (see "His Wisdom" #3; Likutey Moharan I, 282; ibid., II, 78).
Even more necessary, you should encourage others not to be dismayed, no matter what happens. You may be aware of your own failings, but still, this should not prevent you from encouraging others. It is easier to inspire others than to strengthen yourself. Thus, our Sages teach, “A prisoner cannot free himself [from prison]” (Berakhot 5b).
There is nothing worse than discouragement. It is written, “Do not be afraid or terrified” (Deuteronomy 20:3). The Talmud interprets this in relation to warfare, “'Do not be afraid' of the hordes of troops, 'or terrified' of the sound of the war horns.195Sotah 42a, according to Rashi. Cf. Deuteronomy 31:6.
If you want to be religious, you will also encounter many battles. You will have to be brave in the face of “hordes of troops” and “the sound of war horns”
You will have to face many such things (cf. Likutey Halakhot, Giluach 3:9). You must take a stand and not surrender your ground, no matter what you encounter. Anticipate God’s help (Shabbat 31a), and do not stray from Him. The Talmud says about war, “Retreat is the beginning of defeat” (Sotah 44b).
How can you run from God? It is written, “Where can I flee from You? If I mount up to heaven, You are there; if I descend to hell, You are there” (Psalms 139:7-8). God is everywhere!
You must be very stubborn in your devotion.196Cf. Likutey Moharan II, 48, 51; Likutey Halakhot, Tefilah 5:43; ibid., Birkat HaMazon 4:12; ibid., Basar VeChalav 5:29; ibid., Shiluach HaKen 4:2; Nachaley Emunah 34.
You may feel far from God, but do not discourage others. Do just the opposite and strengthen them in every way you can. Speak to them with words that restore the soul (Psalms 19:8). Do this and eventually you will also be affected and be worthy of true devotion to God.
עָנָה וְאָמַר: "חִזְקוּ וְאִמְצוּ כָּל הַמְיַחֲלִים לַה'" (תְּהִלִּים לא), "כָּל הַמְיַחֲלִים" דַּיְקָא.
The Rebbe once quoted the verse, “Be strong and brave, all who hope in God”194The verse is actually, “Be strong and let your hearts be brave.” The expression, “Be strong and brave,” as quoted here, is from Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 10:25, and II Chronicles 32:7. (Psalms 31:25). The Rebbe stressed, “all who hope in God.”
אֲפִלּוּ אִם אֵינְכֶם זוֹכִים לְשׁוּם קְדֻשָּׁה וַעֲבוֹדָה ח"ו, רַק מְיַחֲלִים לְבַד, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן חִזְקוּ וְאִמְצוּ וְאַל תִּפְּלוּ מִשּׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם יִהְיֶה אֵיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה (כַּמְבֹאָר מִזֶּה בִּדְבָרֵינוּ כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה פְּעָמִים).
You may not be worthy of holiness or devotion. But you can still hope. In this way, you can be “strong and brave.” No matter what happens, never let anything discourage you (see "His Wisdom" #3; Likutey Moharan I, 282; ibid., II, 78).
וְיוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר מִזֶּה צָרִיךְ כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְחַזֵּק אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ, לְבַל יִפֹּל בְּדַעְתּוֹ מִשּׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם. וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם הוּא יוֹדֵעַ בְּעַצְמוֹ שֶׁהוּא כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוּא אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן יְחַזֵּק אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ, כִּי אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ בְּקַל יוֹתֵר לְחַזֵּק מִלְּחַזֵּק אֶת עַצְמוֹ, כִּי אֵין חָבוּשׁ מַתִּיר אֶת עַצְמוֹ (בְּרָכוֹת ה:).
Even more necessary, you should encourage others not to be dismayed, no matter what happens. You may be aware of your own failings, but still, this should not prevent you from encouraging others. It is easier to inspire others than to strengthen yourself. Thus, our Sages teach, “A prisoner cannot free himself [from prison]” (Berakhot 5b).
כִּי אֵין רָעָה גְּדוֹלָה מִנְּפִילָה. וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ ז"ל לְעִנְיַן מִלְחָמָה הַגַּשְׁמִיּוּת עַל פָּסוּק (דְּבָרִים כ־ג): "אַל תִּירְאוּ וְאַל תַּעַרְצוּ" וְכוּ' אַל תִּירְאוּ מִשִּׁפְעַת הַקַּלְגָּסִים וְאַל תַּעַרְצוּ מִקּוֹל הַקְּרָנוֹת וְכוּ'.
There is nothing worse than discouragement. It is written, “Do not be afraid or terrified” (Deuteronomy 20:3). The Talmud interprets this in relation to warfare, “'Do not be afraid' of the hordes of troops, 'or terrified' of the sound of the war horns.195Sotah 42a, according to Rashi. Cf. Deuteronomy 31:6.
שֶׁכָּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה עוֹבְרִים עַל מִי שֶׁחָפֵץ לִכְנֹס בַּעֲבוֹדַת ה', שֶׁכַּמָּה מִינֵי מִלְחָמוֹת וּפְחָדִים וְשִׁפְעַת הַקַּלְגָּסִים וְקוֹל הַקְּרָנוֹת וְכוּ' וְכוּ' עוֹבְרִים עַל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד (וְכַמְבֹאָר בִּדְבָרֵינוּ מִזֶּה).
If you want to be religious, you will also encounter many battles. You will have to be brave in the face of “hordes of troops” and “the sound of war horns”
וְצָרִיךְ לַעֲמֹד עַל עָמְדוֹ, לִבְלִי לְהַנִּיחַ אֶת מְקוֹמוֹ בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן בָּעוֹלָם, וּלְצַפּוֹת לִישׁוּעָה תָּמִיד וְלִבְלִי לְהִתְרַחֵק וְלָנוּס מִמֶּנּוּ יִתְבָּרַךְ ח"ו, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ ז"ל (סוֹטָה מ"ד:) לְעִנְיַן מִלְחָמָה: שֶׁתְּחִלַּת מַפָּלָה – נִיסָה, רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן.
You will have to face many such things (cf. Likutey Halakhot, Giluach 3:9). You must take a stand and not surrender your ground, no matter what you encounter. Anticipate God’s help (Shabbat 31a), and do not stray from Him. The Talmud says about war, “Retreat is the beginning of defeat” (Sotah 44b).
"כִּי אָנָה מִפָּנֶיךָ אֶבְרָחַ. אִם אֶסַּק שָׁמַיִם שָׁם אַתָּה וְאַצִּיעָה שְׁאוֹל הִנֶּךָּ" וְכוּ' (תְּהִלִּים קלט). כִּי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּכָל מָקוֹם.
How can you run from God? It is written, “Where can I flee from You? If I mount up to heaven, You are there; if I descend to hell, You are there” (Psalms 139:7-8). God is everywhere!
כִּי צְרִיכִין לִהְיוֹת עַקְשָׁן גָּדוֹל בַּעֲבוֹדַת ה' (כַּמְבֹאָר בִּדְבָרֵינוּ עַיֵּן שָׁם).
You must be very stubborn in your devotion.196Cf. Likutey Moharan II, 48, 51; Likutey Halakhot, Tefilah 5:43; ibid., Birkat HaMazon 4:12; ibid., Basar VeChalav 5:29; ibid., Shiluach HaKen 4:2; Nachaley Emunah 34.
וּכְשֶׁיִּזְכֶּה לִבְלִי לְהַפִּיל אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ, (אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁיֵּדַע בְּעַצְמוֹ שֶׁהוּא רָחוֹק מֵעֲבוֹדָתוֹ) אַדְּרַבָּא יְחַזְּקוֹ בְּכָל מִינֵי הִתְחַזְּקוּת וִיחַיֵּהוּ וִישִׁיבֵהוּ בְּכָל מִינֵי דִּבּוּרִים הַמְּשִׁיבִין אֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְכוּ', עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יָכוֹל לִהְיוֹת שֶׁאַחַר־כָּךְ יִזְכֶּה גַּם הוּא לַחֲזֹר וְלָשׁוּב לַעֲבוֹדַת ה' עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה.
You may feel far from God, but do not discourage others. Do just the opposite and strengthen them in every way you can. Speak to them with words that restore the soul (Psalms 19:8). Do this and eventually you will also be affected and be worthy of true devotion to God.