" Gam zu l'tovah " Everthing that happens is for our own good. A belief which will get us through hard times.
There is this story about the Maggid of Mezeritch. One day his son came running to him in tears. The Maggid comforted him and asked why he was crying. The boy began to explain that he had been playing hide - and - seek with his friends.
The child and his friends were hiding. They remained in their hiding place for a long time, thinking that they had hidden well, and the another child who was searching for them, was unable to find them. But soon they got tired of waiting. They came out of their hiding places and found out that they had been wrong. The one who was it was not even there. He had played an trick on them. After they went into their hiding places, he went home instead of searching for them. That is why the Maggid's son and his friends were crying.
When the Maggid of Mezeritch heard this story, he also began to cry. His son asked him why he was crying. The Maggid told him that HaShem has the same story, complaining about the same thing.
What did the Maggid mean?
" You are a G-d who hides " - Yeshayahu 45: 15
HaShem says: " I hide myself from you, but the purpose of My hiding is that you should come and search for Me. But instead of searching for Me, you go away and busy yourself with other things.
When something negative happens, we often feel broken, the reason that we feel this way is not the negative event itself. There are many who are suffering, without being broken.
When we feel broken, it is because we do not recognize that HaShem is hiding, and that the puropse of these negative events are to motivate us to search and find HaShem. When we realize this, we do not feel broken.
The purpose of HaShem's hiding and being disguised is that we should search for Him, and learn how to find Him. When we are b' simcha, and aware of HaShem, is as we are saying: " I can identify HaShem in all that is happening, the good and the bad. Then the blessings and the goodness comes to the surface.
Why does HaShem want us to search for Him?
In our relationship with HaShem, there must be a deeper reason why He hides Himself, and why He desires that we come looking for Him.
For sure, there must be a positive purpose for HaShem's concealment.
" It is not because HaShem is not with me, when all these terrible things are happening !" Yes, HaShem sometimes hides in every possible hiding place. His intension can be understood as a game of hide- and- go -seek.
He hides, but HaShem is hoping for all Jews will be anticipating in this wonderful moment- when He is found.