Living With Emunah: Turning Everyday Struggles Into Spiritual Growth

Have you ever felt like life kept throwing curveballs your way, just when things were starting to look up? Maybe you studied hard for an exam but your grade didn’t reflect your effort. Or perhaps a younger sibling received a gift, and you felt overlooked. Everyone experiences moments that seem unfair or overwhelmingly difficult. What if these aren’t just challenges but actual opportunities for growth? Let’s take a journey to see how living with emunah – faith – can transform everyday struggles into powerful moments of connection with Hashem and yourself.

The Hidden Strength of Emunah

Contemporary psychology teaches us that resilience—the ability to endure and adapt through hard times—isn’t only innate, but can be cultivated. Remarkably, Jewish wisdom has been sharing this message for millennia. Jewish thinkers teach that emunah is not passive belief, but an active, lived state: the practice of trusting Hashem and searching for purpose in every experience, especially the tough ones. Just as droplets of water can wear through stone, persistent acts of faith shape a powerful, enduring character. It’s the mindset of seeing not just “what’s happening to me,” but “what can I do with what’s happening?”

Everyday Examples: Piano Practice, Presents, and Perspective

Imagine you’ve practiced piano for weeks, but the song still sounds off. Frustrating, right? Your piano teacher advises patience, but it’s hard not to want to quit. Or suppose your uncle brings your younger sibling a present and skips you. It stings — it’s easy to think: “Why not me?” And maybe, just maybe, you get a disappointing report card, while your friends do great with hardly any effort.

It’s at EXACTLY these moments, Jewish tradition tells us, that emunah comes alive. That’s when you pause and affirm: “Hashem knows what He’s doing. I may not get it, but I can trust there’s a reason.” In the Torah Live series, the talking siddur guides Josh through similar struggles – practicing patience, learning from setbacks, and turning envy or frustration into fuel for personal and spiritual growth. The world’s greatest Torah scholars, like Rabbi Akiva, started with setbacks and struggle. But faith turned their journey into something meaningful—and so can yours.

Two Practical Emunah Steps for Real Life

1. First, remind yourself: Hashem knows what He’s doing. Take a tip from the story of Rabbi Yitzchak Levi of Berdichev, who would say, “If I were God, I’d do exactly what He’s doing now.” It’s humbling—but empowering—to admit we don’t see the full picture. When faced with a letdown, say: “If I was meant to get this, it would’ve come. If not, it’s not truly for me.”
2. Second, ask: How can this bring me closer to Hashem? Use every experience as a springboard for growth. If you didn’t get the gift, maybe there’s a chance to be happy for your sibling (or aspire to be a giver yourself, like the boy in the story who wished to be ‘a brother like that’). If you got a bad grade, you can turn to Hashem for help and seek support, turning struggle into partnership.

Putting Faith Into Action: Start Today

You don’t need to face huge life tests to practice emunah. Try these quick exercises today:

• When something small doesn’t go your way, repeat: “Hashem knows what He’s doing.”
• Jot down a recent setback and list one way it could help you become more patient, grateful, or empathetic.
• Look for someone else’s win, and celebrate it with them—even if you felt left out. Notice the shift!

Remember, living with emunah isn’t about ignoring feelings or pretending everything is fine. It’s about allowing faith to guide you through life’s ups and downs, trusting that Hashem is with you at every step. Even when you don’t know the way forward, He’s guiding you to your best self.

Bounce Forward, Not Just Back

Setbacks and struggles aren’t setbacks at all—they’re invitations to discover your hidden strengths. With emunah, every obstacle becomes a launchpad for inner growth and deeper connection with Hashem. Imagine how your daily life would change if you approached every frustration, every “why me?” and every minor disappointment as a sign that you’re being guided, molded, and cheered on by the Ultimate Coach.

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