We have a saying in Judaism that goes something like “Hashem Gives Us What We Need” and the idea behind it is that every moment is a growing opportunity that, if we pay attention, we can use to develop spiritually. Hand-in-hand with this is the idea that we never are given a test that is beyond our ability to cope with.

We see this in everyday life in things like strained finances and relationships, physical limitations and illness, or confused thoughts that we can’t make sense of. Thoughtless individuals can see these occurrences as something out of their control, which leads to thoughts of worry, frustration and a feeling of being a victim of a cruel world.

The person of Emuna, a deep and sure knowledge that Hashem is calling the shots, accepts the challenge and works through it to reach a higher level on the other side; a place where conscious action brings about desired changes that resolve the issue once and for all.

Thus, we see the double-edged sword. Let’s use strained finances as an example. It is tempting to assume that poverty is a gift from Hashem to foster a sense of compassion and humility, and it is. Such a person should learn to pray that they be given the proper means of support and trust that it will come to them.

So, do they lay around in bed and wait for it to come? Of course not! Instead, they should hustle to make a living and follow up on their ideas that can bring them the income they need. Additionally, it will help to reduce their needs and bring them in line with reality. A person of Emuna believes that their current struggles will be resolved when the lesson has been learned and just keeps on trying until they do.

The opposite of this is worry and fear. These attitudes amount to second-guessing Hashem and doubt in the divine providence that fills the world. These people become depressed victims of life who say things like “why bother” and “I’m not worthy of receiving blessing.” They are defeated before they even begin.

A more extreme example can be found in strained relationships. If a person is plagued with a nagging spouse, it is easy to think that they are wrong and ignore the growth opportunity in that they just may be right. Rabbi Shalom Arush, in his book “The Garden of Peace,” brings us an important counter-concept that your spouse works as a mirror of yourself and that whatever comes from their mouth points to a deficiency in yourself.

This radical perspective allows a person to pick up the challenge and resolve it. If accused of being lazy, then do something. When called a jerk, then try being nice. Then, the nagging ends and true personal growth will be achieved. Seems simple enough.

One must move past a blind acceptance of their hardships into a path of action. This is where Emuna comes into play. If one does what they feel is necessary and still do not gain the desired result, then they must not have performed the correct action. If so, then they need to pray for a new idea and follow up on it. In this way, they will eventually reach the proper soul correction and achieve a place of true happiness and contentment.