Who is Just?

Translated by Rabbi Lazer Brody

A person who does not lovingly accept everything that happens to him in his life in effect makes a statement that he doesn’t like the way Hashem governs the world; in other words, he thinks that Hashem treats him unjustly. The Heavenly Court regards such an attitude unfavorably. Accordingly, the Heavenly tribunal opens the files of the disgruntled, despairing or sad person and checks if there is truth to his complaint. Perhaps Hashem really did forget, Heaven forbid, to pay him for something? Perhaps, Heaven forbid, He really did not judge him justly? Merely suspecting Hashem of injustice is both insult and heresy.
 
Before we continue, here is an important spiritual principle to always keep in mind: G-d is always merciful, but the Heavenly Court judges according to the letter of the law – and with no mercy.
 
Let’s see now what happens to the person who has complained. The Heavenly Court microscopically examines the complainer’s file. After much scrutiny, the truth becomes readily apparent in the Heavenly Court: Not only are the person’s complaints against G-d unfounded, but the very opposite is true. This person has a substantial slate of outstanding spiritual debts resulting from his transgressions, for which he has not yet been tried because Hashem, in His infinite mercy, has delayed judgment. Hashem has been giving this person multiple chances to rectify himself (which the person has not yet done). When the Heavenly Court discovers this, it tries the person according to the letter of the law, mercilessly demanding punitive measures for every tiny misdeed. Now his troubles really begin.
 
This is the reason why a person’s prayers are ineffective when he cries and complains. All his requests, prayers and supplications return empty-handed. All the Heavenly gates, doors, and windows are closed before him. Perhaps an angel is even sent to re-plaster all the walls to ensure that there will not be the slightest crack through which the complainer may get a word in. Everything is completely sealed before him. “You like to cry,” the Heavenly Court says to him, “so we will provide you with reasons to keep crying” (Heaven forbid). “Don’t worry; we have all the tools necessary to help you cry as much as you want…”
 
On the other hand, when a person lives his life with gratitude, all the Heavenly gates, doors and windows are open before him. Perhaps an angel is even sent to tear down the walls so that there should not be any hindrance from blocking his thanks from ascending before G-d. “You like to give thanks?” the Heavenly Court says to him. “We will give you plenty to be thankful for. We will make sure that you will not stop praising G-d and giving thanks.”
 
If you would like to see all the good and kindness that G-d bestows upon you and fill your life with thanks, here’s a useful suggestion: start a notebook and write down all the kindnesses and small miracles that Hashem does for you. Then, thank Him for every detail that you have recorded. Anybody who does this will be automatically filled with joy. He will discover that life is full of the Creator’s kindness and that his notebook is not large enough to record all of the good that G-d sends his way. Furthermore, he will experience more and more miracles and wonders in his life.
 
With a thankfulness notebook, a person can taste paradise in this world. Hashem forgives all the sins of those grateful people who are happy with their lot and accept everything that happens to them with love. He even forgives those sins that the Torah considers unforgivable. That’s not all – a person’s willful sins turn into merits because his gratitude brings him to teshuva out of love.
 
The book Netivot Olam states that Hashem forgives the sins of a person who accepts everything that happens to him with happiness and adoration – measure for measure. It’s as if G-d says, “Just as this person accepts the way that I conduct the world with love, so I accept his behavior with love.” What could be better?