Indigenous Peoples Call Israel the World's Greatest Decolonization Story
4 min read
4 min read
God gives us tools. Faith means picking them up.
“God only gives you what you can handle.”
This phrase is often spoken in moments of crisis, grief, or personal struggle. For some, it inspires hope. But for many, it feels dismissive, suggesting that suffering is a test and that waiting patiently for Divine rescue is all that’s expected of us.
But Judaism and psychology teach otherwise: we are not meant to wait for change—we are meant to create it.
The famous parable tells of a man drowning in a flood. As he struggles, he prays, “God, save me!” A rowboat comes by. Then a helicopter. Then a life preserver. Each time, he declines: “No thanks, I have faith—God will save me.” He drowns. Upon reaching Heaven, he asks why God didn’t save him. God responds: “I sent you a rowboat, a helicopter, and a life preserver. What more did you expect?”
God responds to our prayers by giving us tools. It is our job to use them.
We our obligated to put in our sincere and responsible effort. In Hebrew, this is called hishtadlut. Faith is not passive. It is participatory.
Faith is not passive. It is participatory.
When the Israelites cry out in fear before the Sea of Reeds, God tells Moses, “Why do you cry out to Me? Tell the people to go forward.” (Exodus 14:15) This is not a rejection of prayer. It is a demand for action. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, leading 19th-century Jewish thinker and educator, explains that true emunah (faith) leads to movement. To believe is to act.
Maimonides codifies this idea in his Laws of Character where he writes that a person is obligated to care for their body and mind because they are tools given by God to serve Him. Seeking therapy, using coping skills, engaging in self-regulation and introspection—these are not mere “secular” fixes. They are part of our obligation to take responsible action to heal.
In the clinical world, particularly in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), change begins with cognitive restructuring: challenging the automatic beliefs that hold us back. When a person believes, “I’m helpless,” or “Things will never change,” it often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Replacing those distortions with more accurate, compassionate, and action-oriented truths results in real change.
As King Solomon wrote in Proverbs, “As a person thinks in his heart, so is he” (23:7). Our thoughts shape our identity, our choices, and ultimately our spiritual trajectory. A person who thinks they are broken or unworthy may avoid opportunities for growth or help, even when the rowboat is right in front of them.
Just because we feel lost doesn’t mean we are beyond saving—or beyond action. The first step is noticing the thought. The next is choosing a different one.
As a social worker, I’m trained to empower, not rescue. People have the ability to use the tools, strengths, and truths they’ve been given by God to actualize change.
I cannot “fix” a client and change him. My role is to help guide and develop the tools they can use for change. The work must come from them.
God gives us tools for survival, He gives us intelligence to seek help when needed, whether it be from a rabbi, doctor or therapist.
Sometimes, the “boat” God sends us looks like:
All of these are valuable.
The Kotzker Rebbe once asked, “Where is God?” and answered, “Wherever you let Him in.” That includes therapy sessions, support groups, and every small, courageous act of showing up for yourself and others.
So yes, God only gives us what we can handle. But God also gives us tools. Faith without effort is fantasy. And effort without faith can feel hollow. But when the two work together—when we believe and build, when we pray and plan, when we cry out and take the first step forward—real, sustainable change happens.
Great article
However I do not think that God gives something we can handle when evil is on the other side of humanity.
Anyone walking into a holocaust chamber did not udder
God gave me this to handle
Hi, I'm the author. Thank you so much for reading and for your heartfelt comment.
You're right—I never wrote that "God only gives us what we can handle." I don't believe that’s always true. Some things in life—like the horrors of the Holocaust or other acts of human evil—are completely beyond what any person should be expected to handle. My point in the article was that while we can't always control what happens to us, we can reach for spiritual tools, community, therapy, and effort to begin healing, even in the aftermath of things we never asked for and didn’t deserve.
I believe that God walks with us in pain, not that He wills every tragedy. And sometimes, healing isn’t about "handling" something in the moment—it’s about slowly rebuilding our connection to ourselves,
Wonderful article. Some additional tools are exercise, healthy food, and enough sleep. Let's start with the basics, and build on that.
Thank you so much for reading and for your thoughtful comment! I completely agree—exercise, nourishing food, and quality sleep are foundational to both emotional and physical healing. Sometimes the most powerful interventions are also the simplest. I love the way you framed it: start with the basics, then build. That’s such an important reminder in a world that often looks for quick fixes. Thank you for adding this valuable perspective!
This article really gave me something to think about- faith means using the tools that God has given us- this idea really resonates and inspires. Thank you!
Thank you so much for your kind words—I'm deeply grateful the message resonated with you. Yes, exactly—faith isn't passive; it's an active partnership, where we honor G-d not only through belief, but by using the emotional, spiritual, and even clinical tools He's placed in our path. I'm so glad the article offered inspiration and reflection, and I appreciate you taking the time to share that!
I found this article particularly meaningful and empowering.
Thank you so much—it truly means a lot to hear that from you. I admire your work in the community, and I’m honored that the article spoke to you. (And I’m always amused by how often our names get swapped—maybe it’s because we’re both trying to spread a little light!)
Such an inspiring piece. Wow.
Thank you so much. Your support means the world to me—and I’m so glad the piece resonated. I poured my heart into it. ❤️
Very well said! This piece opens up new possibilities and gives renewed strength!
Thank you so much, Rabbi Leiter. I deeply appreciate your kind words and the work you do to support and uplift others. It means a great deal to know the piece resonated and offered a sense of strength and possibility.
Amazing!!!
Thank you so much, Gabe! That means a lot—sending love to you and the whole ganza mishpacha in Israel! ❤️
Truly amazing!
Thanks so much, David Eliyahu! That really means a lot coming from you. Now take notes—I expect some deep Torah-therapy insights next time we talk 😉 Love to you, Galee, & the kids, and mazal tov again!