Once we experience, even just a hint, that God exists at all in any situation we find ourselves in,  it’s a short step to understand that He is everywhere. From the most exalted heights we might imagine a proper abode for God, however we individually might conceive of Him, the distance from those heights to our world is infinitely larger than any distance in our created world. Once “here”, there are no boundaries preventing the All-Powerful from going everywhere. When Isaiah declares (6:3) M’lo Kol HaAretz Kvodo, He fills the entire world with His Presence, we can assume the Zohar’s understanding of that concept as meaning Eyn Atar Penui Minay, There is No Place from which He is absent.

No matter how dark and deep a place may be, how deep into despair and depression we might occasionally fall, exactly as The Creator compressed and diminished Himself (צימצום) to dwell in our world, He further reduced himself to fit into even greater depths. Thus, even at our lowest moments, we’re really not alone and it’s never bereft of light.

One of the Meor Eynayim‘s frequent themes, based on the verse in Mishlei, Proverbs (24:17), is that (even, possibly especially) a Tzaddik, a fully righteous person falls seven time, AND RISES, that no longer how often and deep one might fall, and this also includes depression and despair, one fell, or was sent to a hard and dark mental/emotional state, it is only because a remnant of fallen holiness, a Netzutz HaKodesh, which only he can rescue and re-elevate, is waiting for him. And we all, somewhere in our innermost core, the potential of a Tzaddik.

And since it is the highest, most selfless and heroic act one might ever achieve, The Holy One is already there, waiting to help him/us with our task and journey. Bnei Korach Lo Meytu, Korach’s descendants didn’t die (with him) (Bamidbar 26:11). David HaMelech, cries out to God “Mima’akim“, from the depths, Karaticha Hashem (Tehillim 130:1).

We’re never alone, and even at our worst moments, we’re not just randomly thrust into them, but with a purpose. And that purpose is to rescue fallen holiness and to restore it, and by doing so restoring the world, at least in part. We’re never placed beyond our abilities, albeit it might require our maximum efforts and courage, not to mention our deepest faith, Emunah and trust, Bituach, the ultimate help we need is always there, holding us in Divine Embrace.

Shabbat Shalom