Chapter 19 - The Elements of Chassidut/Piety Page 382
The Personal Path of Love for God
The provided text offers a profound discussion, originating from an audio excerpt by Rabbi Moshe Haber, regarding the nature of the love of Hashem (God) and personal faith (emunah). The rabbi argues against a conditional love for God that hinges on positive outcomes, asserting that such a relationship is transactional and fragile, much like a flawed business deal or a romantic relationship based on wealth. Instead, he advocates for a core, unconditional love akin to a child’s natural affection for a father, which persists even through challenges, with personal struggle serving as the ultimate test of genuine devotion. Furthermore, the source emphasizes that one's relationship with God must be personal, warning against building faith by comparing one's struggles to the lives of others, as each individual is given unique tools and challenges to write their own spiritual story.