The Baal Shem Tov taught that true happiness is the high road to G‑d.
“Serve G‑d with happiness!” sings the Psalmist. And the Baal Shem Tov explained, “The happiness itself is your service of G‑d.”
From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.
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You
November 14, 2016
Paul, please know you are not alone. I think some of us have it easier than others, but I also happen to think that what we are lacking will eventually be what propels us forward too.. like stored up energy. Don't compare yourself to others since there is no point to it, no one can take the place of beautiful "You." Keep the faith and no matter what, know you are loved. Reply
Paul
November 10, 2016
Simcha The crux of my question was really not addressed. How does a chronically depressed person who feels no joy, no happiness, no hope approach G-d? I'm in my mid 50s now and all the blessings in my life have never penetrated the darkness I experience daily. I do my part to the best of my abilities but simcha, joy, happiness, etc. has always eluded me. Reply
Brenda
Toronto, Canada
November 9, 2016
Happy To Reveal G_d
We bring contentment to G_d when we allow Him to reveal His quality of Love to us along the 'high road'.
To the extent we become similar to Him by uniting as one heart, described in the method of our sages, the Kabbalists, He reveals His wondrous image to us.
This is the path of the Light - the "high road'. Alternatively, if we take the low road - He will mould us into His image by much suffering and pain.
Reply
Anonymous
Merion Station
November 9, 2016
How do you do this
when you can't feel the happiness
inspite your best intention
and positive thinking / speaking / action efforts ?
Reply
Joy Krauthammer
Valley, LA, CA
March 18, 2015
Be JOY
"Ivdu Et Hashem B'Simcha" "Serve G-d with joy" Psalm 100:2
I like this one that my joy is my service. Now smiling even bigger than I was when I woke this morning and greeted G*d in the garden. Blessings,
Reply
David
Los Angeles
March 18, 2015
No simcha, Paul writes? Has any person ever lived devoid of simchas? For me, simchas are all around us. The siddur I read says, ". . .Thank you G-d for thy miracles which are daily with us. . ." When I complained about my unhappiness to my early spiritual advisor, he would tell me to write a list of ten things I was grateful for-and to repeat the process if I was still unhappy. I think the Reb is saying that happiness is living with gratitude and staying in action, depressed or not. Reply
Anonymous
March 18, 2015
Love this! Thanks for posting! Reply
Paul
California
March 11, 2014
Somehow I know there won't be a reply to this message but my question is how does a chronically depressed person who knows no simcha serve G-d with happiness? Reply
Yaakov Yosefbarhu
Bulverde
March 11, 2014
Happiness I pray that I have happiness in everyday life. I am learning as I go through tough times to praise HaShem. Each tough times brings me closer to G-d, but I must choose to give G-d praise. HaShem is always the same, but I my grab hold of His goodness to be happy. Reply
Anonymous
March 11, 2014
Great! This is so great! Thank you so much for posting it :) Reply
Eugina Giovanna Herrera
New York City, New York
March 5, 2013
Sharing our Joy
Sharing our voices and joy with G-d always is sharing our knowledge of wisdom.
Be happy serving G-d.
Thank you
Reply
Rodolfo Rabonza
Sherman Oaks, CA
October 11, 2011
Revolutionary Thought 'Just being happy is a service to G-d' -- this thought is simple yet powerful! Reply
Anonymous
September 28, 2010
JUST HAPPY This is so BEAUTIFUL, and I am treasuring ths one! Reply
Michal
Passau, germany
September 28, 2010
Happiness
That means, when I am sad or depressive,
then I am not serving G-d?
And that means also: the older you get, the less you can serve God???
It's a bit hard to believe.
Of course I feel gratefulness and more love
for G-d , as He was at my side all my life
long. But happiness? Now I am weeping more often than at the times I fell in love with my husband or had children. -
Reply
Judith L Witten
brockton, MA/USA
September 28, 2010
Just Happy Honoring the knowledge that has been brought down from the Baal Shem Tov If I may just say that sometimes I just feel happy-I may not know why but I ask myself if I have done all I could today and sometimes the answer is yes...so I feel G-D s presence and his love then I am the happiest. Reply
After years of disappointment in many areas, I started to realize that my misery and anger wasn’t caused by punishment aimed at me. I just didn’t know how things work then. My focus was aimed at “me”, and there was no understanding of who I am. There are a couple of important points I had to learn.
First: the Creator is the only consciousness there is.
Second: the Creator pointed out that he is “I AM”, that is to say He Exists.
Third: the Creator pointed out “Ein Od Milvado”, that there is nothing else.
So, in a tiny sense, if you are angry at yourself, or at another person, for whatever reason, you are angry with the One who IS. For this reason, we are better off thanking anyone involved for giving you your chance for healing a wound in you however it came. It’s how He operates.