While nisyonos, like medication, are inherently for our benefit, Hashem also coats them in a capsule of kindness
The expression “a bitter pill to swallow” has its roots in the literal experience of taking medicine that doesn’t taste good, but is often used idiomatically to refer to difficult experiences. If you think about IT, there’s a deep, albeit subtle message behind this metaphor. Just like medicine may be bitter but is ultimately for our benefit, whatever challenges we go through also have a healing purpose. Pill-taking, in the conventional sense, became easier with the advent of the capsule.
Surrounding the medicine with a coating allowed patients to take the medicine without the bitterness.
To continue our metaphor, while nisyonos, like medication, are inherently for our benefit, Hashem also coats them in a capsule of kindness to make challenges more palatable.
The Chofetz Chaim teaches that this is how we can understand the pasuk in Tehillim 32: “Rabim machovim larasha, v’haboteiach baHashem chesed y’sovevenu — The wicked experience many painful ailments but the one who trusts Hashem is surrounded by kindness.” Even when we endure challenges and painful times, let our mantra be, “Chesed y’sovevenu.” I am surrounded by His kindness, engulfed in His love. Even, and specifically when, I am going through something difficult.
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