There Is No Despair in the World at All!

The Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a: A Jew's test is not to fall into despair—that is the main test! Because everyone must go through tests, descents, and ascents until the end of their life! The main strengthening in joy is during the descent; the main test is during the hardest times, to believe that he will emerge from all the problems. There is a shocking, tremendous story in Kochavei Or about someone who dug and found a diamond worth a million dollars. He thought it was a piece of glass. Someone came and told him, "This is a diamond! It's worth a fortune!!" But [he said], "You won't find anyone in the village or the whole country who can buy this diamond from you." Therefore, he decided to travel to London. He sold his house, all his rags, and his broken furniture, but the money was only enough to reach the port. When he arrived at the port, a ship captain found him and asked, "Why are you wandering around here?" He replied, "I have a precious stone! A diamond!" and showed him the diamond. The captain was astounded; he stood in shock. He told him, "If you have such a thing, board the ship immediately! No need for money! Don't pay anything!" He arranged a magnificent room, a luxurious bed, and three meals a day for him. One day on the ship, he sat down to eat and looked at the diamond, delighting in it! Suddenly, he dozed off and fell asleep for a second. The waiter entered, cleared the table with the diamond along with all the dirt and scraps, took everything, and shook it out into the sea. When he woke up, he went into shock! He almost fainted! His heart stopped working! The diamond had fallen into the sea!! If the captain knew what happened, he would throw him off the ship—he would throw him into the sea after the diamond! Then the Jew decided that he would not fall into despair! He decided to strengthen himself in joy with all his might!! With superhuman strength!! He strengthened himself with all his power to be happy, to smile. Five minutes later, the captain entered. The Jew gave him such a smile, started laughing, dancing; he made such movements of joy, he became the happiest person! The captain had never seen him so happy. In truth, the Jew knew he could only maintain this joy, this happiness, for a short time; soon his heart would start pounding again. When the captain saw him so happy, he understood that he must be very wealthy. He said to him, "Let's make a deal! Everyone thinks I'm a pirate, and when I arrive in London, everyone interrogates me about where the merchandise comes from. Therefore, you are a compassionate Jew—come have mercy on me! The whole ship with all the merchandise, with all the gold and diamonds—everything will be in your name. I trust you! You are a great merchant! Successful! You have a diamond here worth a lot." He registered all the property in his name. They just arrived at the port, even before they disembarked, the captain suffered a stroke. All the property on the ship, all the millions, all the gold—everything passed into the Jew's possession. And it was all in the merit that he did not fall into despair. Rebbe Nachman revealed a completely new innovation! You should know: There is no despair in the world at all!! There is no such thing as despair!! Even in the greatest disaster, even in the greatest crisis, if a person holds on for five minutes being happy, dancing, singing—then everything turns around for the good! One must always come home with a smile, always come home with joy! At home, they don't need to know that you are currently in trouble or in a crisis. If you can't smile or be happy, sit outside on the stairs, practice smiling, make movements of joy, train yourself, and then enter the house with a happy face, with a shining face. When a person is in some trouble, has some problem, some difficulty in life, and he does not fall into despair and does not lose faith (Emunah) for a moment, but strengthens himself with songs, dances, and joy, then he is at the highest level! He sings, dances, and rejoices within the trouble, within the suffering. He sings to Hashem, thanking Hashem for every single breath. Because what does it matter what you are going through? You must always thank Hashem for every single breath!