In the previous section, the Alter Rebbe explained that when difficulties arise, a person should not immediately run searching for advisers and solutions, but should first turn directly toward Hashem.
Now he explains:
How can a person actually accept suffering with love?
This is the practical answer to the entire letter.
- The Advice of Chazal: Examine Your Deeds
The Alter Rebbe writes:
โืืคืฉืคืฉ ืืืขืฉืืโ
A person should examine his actions.
This follows the teaching of Chazal that when suffering comes, one should engage in introspection.
The goal is not self-destruction or despair.
Rather, it is to recognize:
- Areas needing correction.
- Sins requiring purification.
- Spiritual growth that is being demanded.
- Seeing the Love Hidden Inside the Pain
Once a person recognizes that the suffering is meant to cleanse and elevate him, he begins to perceive something deeper:
The suffering itself is an expression of love.
The Alter Rebbe says that Divine love is hidden within the rebuke.
The external experience may appear harsh.
The inner reality is compassion.
- The Parable of the King and His Son
The Alter Rebbe gives a striking mashal.
Imagine:
A mighty king personally washing the filth from his only son.
Ordinarily, a king would never lower himself to such a task.
Yet because he loves the child so intensely, he does it himself.
Similarly, when Hashem cleanses a Jew through difficulties and suffering, it demonstrates a profound level of personal involvement and love.
- โAs Water Reflects a Faceโ
The verse states:
โืืืื ืืคื ืื ืืคื ืืโ
โAs water reflects a face to a face.โ
When a person contemplates the immense love Hashem is showing him,
his own love for Hashem awakens in response.
The suffering no longer appears as rejection.
It becomes understood as a form of closeness.
- The Greatest Kindness
The Alter Rebbe quotes:
โืื ืืงืจ ืืกืืโ
and
โืื ืืื ืืกืื ืืืืืโ
โYour kindness is better than life.โ
Why?
Because physical life itself is not the highest good.
The greatest good is closeness to Hashem.
Divine love is more valuable than all worldly pleasures and even than life itself.
- Chesed Is the Source of All Life
The Alter Rebbe explains:
Chesed is the life-force of all worlds.
As we say in davening:
โืืืืื ืืืื ืืืกืโ
โHe sustains life with kindness.โ
Thus, beneath every Divine act lies infinite chesed and love.
Even when that love appears clothed in judgment.
- Then the Hidden Love Becomes Revealed
Once a person accepts the suffering with love and responds correctly,
something changes Above.
The Alter Rebbe says:
โืื ืโ ืืชื ืืืืโ
Then Hashem will openly bestow good.
The hidden love that had been concealed within rebuke now becomes revealed kindness.
- Sweetening the Judgments at Their Source
This leads to a classic Chassidic concept:
ืืืชืืง ืืืืืจืืช ืืฉืืจืฉื
Sweetening the severities in their source.
When one recognizes the inner love behind the judgment,
the judgments themselves become transformed.
They lose their harsh expression.
- The Ultimate Outcome
The Alter Rebbe concludes:
The judgments are ultimately nullified.
What appeared initially as suffering is revealed to have been an instrument of Divine love all along.
The person emerges:
- Purified.
- Closer to Hashem.
- More receptive to revealed blessings.
Key Takeaway
The Alter Rebbe teaches that the path to accepting suffering with love begins with honest self-examination and recognition that hardships are intended for purification and growth. By viewing them as expressions of a loving Fatherโs care, a person awakens reciprocal love for Hashem. This transforms the experience spiritually, revealing the hidden kindness within the judgment and ultimately drawing down open and visible goodness.
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