BS’D
According to the Steipler HaKadosh, one of the main dangers we regularly face in ‘forgetting’ our emuna comes from our ego. The weakening of one’s trust in Hashem that comes in the form of doubts, worries and frustrations most often originate in the negative trait of arrogance.
Rav Hisda in Masechet Sotah 5 says in the famous verse, “Ein Ani v’hu yecholin ladur b’yachad… (Every Man in whom is haughtiness of spirit, Hashem declares, I and he cannot both dwell in the world).” Pride is a destructive force as in another text in the Gemara, Rav Elazar writes, “Over every man in who is haughtiness of spirit the Shechinah laments.” In fact, the bulk of Sotah discusses the sin of conceit in a very harsh manner.
Superiority in many of us may have been part of the molding of our character as children. However, as we mature, we must remove this negative trait as it only leads to our downfall. Once we are able to control and channel our arrogance, we will find ourselves flourishing with emuna and all of our doubts will simply disappear.
This comes as a product of the renewed feeling of not being entitled to anything. If we could only live our lives with the attitude that everything is a gift, to be more precise an undeserved gift that we are given by Hashem solely out of His eternal love for us, we would reach an unbreakable level of emuna.
A key tool in increasing the attribute of humility comes from learning divrei mussar (moral discipline). There is an abundance of CDs, shiurim and books available that help us acquire this noble trait of humbleness. As we develop this praiseworthy quality, our ability to attach ourselves to the Borei Olam with emuna shleimah will become, B’H, second nature.
