One Day at a Time

I usually like company, but recently I’ve had an annoying visitor I just can’t seem to get rid of – the yetzer hara (evil inclination).  He must really like me because he just won’t leave me alone.  Forget about all the things he makes me do against my ‘I-should-have-known-better’ will.  I can only put so much blame on him for those sins, since I do have free choice to tell him to back off. What is really not nice is the way he constantly messes up things that aren’t in my control. (Not that anything is really in our control, but we have to make the effort or nothing would get done. Hashem then blesses our labors, if they are worthy.)
 
At the present moment my family is trying to deal with two challenges; I am looking for a job and we have to be out of our apartment in less than two months. We are very serious about moving to a specific community, one with a stronger religious population which has more English Torah classes (shiurim) for me and a greater selection of minyanim (quorums of 10 men for communal prayers) for my husband. Locating an apartment within our budget is not a simple task, hence, my need for employment. Since we began our search, every step of the way has been met with obstacles. We no sooner find an apartment we like and we are told it has already been taken. One place had us going in circles just trying to go look at it. First the tenant was out of the country, and then she lost her cell phone with all her contact numbers. Next her son came down with stomach flu so she couldn’t show it to anyone. In the end, she changed her mind completely and decided not to move out. Before I discovered emuna I would have become stressed and upset that we are getting nowhere quickly. Instead, I took a deep breath and laughed. I pictured a little devil cheerfully bouncing up and down in the corner of a boxing ring, all excited that he took a good punch at us. Well, Mr. Yetzer, you may have gotten some points on this round, but the match is not over by any means. We are neither down nor out.
 
I actually took these events as a good sign. Since the yetzer’s main goal is to keep us from attaining holiness, the fact that he is working overtime on keeping us from finding a place in the preferred location shows that we are probably on the right track. He knows that by living in a vibrant, Torah setting, we will be able to grow closer to Hashem and live richer spiritual lives. He fears for the wall which will be erected the moment we find a suitable home, a wall he knows he will have trouble breaching.
 
As for the job, G-d willing, the right opportunity will present itself at the proper time, if it is meant to be.  Money is a means to an end, not a be-all and end-all. If we can attain the necessities, that is, having a roof over our heads, food on the table, good health and the ability to serve Hashem with all of our might, then money is certainly secondary. Yes, we do require a certain amount of funds to survive in this material world and fulfill our financial obligations, but G-d has not failed us so far, so why would he start now? As gratitude to our Provider (G-d) for what we receive and to create a balance in the world, it is imperative to give a portion (10% maaser – tithes) of our income to charity.  Unbeknownst to us, the family down the block may be short of money for their upcoming Shabbat meals. When they are suddenly surprised with an unexpected food basket, their delight is credited to the person who donated the assistance.  (Giving 20%, a chomesh, is an even greater testament to our trust in HaShem). Aside from the merit of the mitzvah we perform in giving tzedaka (charity), we are also repaid measure for measure through blessings of our own abundance and more.
 
As with all of our needs, the best way to achieve our goals is through prayer. As Rav Shalom Arush and Rabbi Lazer Brody teach, it is essential to first thank Hashem for all of our difficulties.  Once we do that – with complete sincerity – we should continue to appeal for help with whatever problem we need resolved. I pray daily to find the right place to live at a price we can afford, as well as for sufficient parnasah (income) to enable us to live our lives in the manner Hashem has commanded. If He has not yet answered my pleas today, I have no fear that he will not respond to our requests when the time is right.
 
 The world is changing constantly. Who knows what tomorrow will bring so why worry? Trust in G-d, take one day at a time and smile. Rebbe Nachman, zt’l said it is a great mitzvah to be happy (Likutei Moharan 2:34).  The yetzer has to work twice as hard when we live our lives with joy and kedusha (holiness).  If we relentlessly strengthen ourselves in Torah and Mitzvot, G-d willing, we will have the ability to dodge the yetzer’s nasty punch until it is he who is finally down for the count and we can claim the victory!