\u00a0 <\/span>The simple reality is that maybe<\/i>, <\/i>just maybe<\/i>, it\u2019s not going because it\u2019s not supposed<\/i> to go. Maybe Hashem knows better than I do what is for my best. \u201cHmmmm\u2026 I never thought about that…\u201d<\/p>\nHistorical Perspective<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
This is peculiar because I\u2019ve lived through situations that didn\u2019t turn out as I thought they would. I absolutely had to have that<\/i> job; it was just what I needed. I could earn a living, support my family, and still have time to learn. It was the perfect fit. In the end, I didn\u2019t get the job, and I had major questions. \u201cHashem, why?! Why aren\u2019t You there for me?\u201d Then, five years later, I find out that the entire industry is being shipped over to India. Oh\u2026<\/p>\n
A different time, I tried to marry that woman. She was perfect; great match, good family. She would make a fantastic wife and mother for my children. And it didn\u2019t go. \u201cHashem, why have you abandoned me? This is what I need!\u201d She ended up marrying someone else. Then, two years later, I find out that the term \u201cmentally unstable\u201d is a mild description of her situation. Mmmmm\u2026<\/p>\n
Then it was my son. My son absolutely, positively, had to get into that class; it was just what he needed. Great rebbe<\/i>, good atmosphere\u2014it was perfect. And the menahel<\/i> wouldn\u2019t let. \u201cHashem, why? Where are You?\u201d Then, two months later, I found out that there\u2019s a child in that class who would have been the worst possible influence on my son. It would have been devastating. Hmmmm\u2026<\/p>\n
Part of Human Nature<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
The ironic part is that we do this all the time. We act as if we truly know what is best for us. We run after it. We hotly pursue it.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo obstacle will stand in my<\/i> way. Nothing will prevent this<\/i> from coming about.\u201d<\/p>\n
And when lo and behold, my efforts are thwarted\u2014the questions begin. \u201cBut, why? It\u2019s not fair! I am a good person. Hashem, why won\u2019t You just help me?\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s easy to see the folly of this when other people do it, but when it happens in my world, then the real challenge begins. To break out of this, we need to change perspective.<\/p>\n
Hashem Knows Better than I Do What Is for My Best<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
The concept we need to embrace is that Hashem knows better than I do what is best for me. <\/i>As smart as I may be, and as clear as it is to me that this is what I need, Hashem still knows better. That is the second condition of bitachon<\/i>.<\/p>\n
In theory, this should be easy to see. After all, how much do I know? How far into the future can I really see? But the problem isn\u2019t in the world of theory. The problem is in my world\u2014in the thick and thin of life.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s when I know so clearly that this is what I need and it\u2019s not happening that the challenge begins. So I go back and forth in my mind. \u201cYes, I would like to trust Hashem, but\u2026 how can I possibly believe that Hashem is doing this for my good? I know<\/i> it\u2019s not true. You can\u2019t ask me to accept something I know is false. If I weren\u2019t sure, it would be one thing, but this is so clear and so obvious. I know what I need.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Solution: The Bigger Picture<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
The solution is to put some perspective into my thinking. Often it requires talking to myself, having actual conversations in my mind where I challenge myself.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s see\u2026 Who should I trust\u2014myself or Hashem? Well, let\u2019s do the math. Who am I? Who is Hashem?<\/p>\n
\u201cHashem created the heavens and the earth and all that they contain. He wrote the formulas for quantum physics and molecular biology. He views the entire universe with one glance. He sees the future as the past. And He has the wisdom to see far-reaching results. What will this bring to ten years from now? What will the consequences be twenty years from now?\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI, on the other hand, see about two inches in front of my face. I make mistakes. I get confused and caught up. I forget. I forget lessons. I forget facts. I forget consequences. I can\u2019t remember what I had for breakfast this morning. And as much as I think I know, I am often wrong. That which I think will be so good for me, so many times isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cHashem, on the other hand, remembers every event since Creation. Hashem sees from one end of history to the other. And Hashem made me. He is my Creator, and He knows me even better than I do<\/i>, so He understands my needs better than I do. <\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cWho do I think has it right? Me or Hashem? Me or Hashem? Mmmmm. Let me get back to you on that one.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eighty percent of our emunah problems and ninety percent of our questions on Hashem stem from one mistake\u2014we play God. Playing God means I know exactly what I need. I need to marry that woman. I need that job. I need my child to get into that school. I\u2019ve talked to Hashem about it. I\u2019ve<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132836,"featured_media":38369,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\n
Stop Playing God - OU Life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/stop-playing-god\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Stop Playing God - OU Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Eighty percent of our emunah problems and ninety percent of our questions on Hashem stem from one mistake\u2014we play God. Playing God means I know exactly what I need. I need to marry that woman. I need that job. I need my child to get into that school. I\u2019ve talked to Hashem about it. 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<\/p>\n