How should you spiritually respond to serious illness?

King Solomon warns:

“Stay away from worries.
Do not allow them to control your heart.”

What do our Rabbis teach about dealing with illness?
How should you respond spiritually to illness?

Rabbi Yisroel Brog explains:

You invite worry into your life.

You may be dealing with many issues.

But worry is something you choose.

When you worry you ultimately lose one way or another.

Rabbeinu Yonah (1180-1263) suggests:

When you face a challenging situation
trust and depend only on
HaKodesh Boruch Hu (the Holy One Blessed is He).

Focus on your bitachon (rely on G-d).

The Vilna Gaon (1720-1797) teaches:

Even when you are forced to deal with cancer or other terrible illnesses you should not lose control of your thoughts.

Your heart should not be overrun with worries.

Your simcha (joy) helps strengthen your ability to recover.

However, if you feel down or sad you will not recover.

Rabbi Brog explains:

Your simcha (joy) strengthens both your spirit and your body.

A positive attitude strengthens the body’s ability to fight even severe illnesses.

You must work on your spirit (ruach).

Even when you feel sad, look for the good in your situation.

Your healthy mind leads you to a healthy body.

People come to Rabbi Brog to talk about their problems.

One difficulty leads to another.

Then another.

It never ends.

Soon what started as a drizzle becomes a storm.

This happens,
then that,
then this.

You feel overwhelmed.

“Oy vey!”

These people do not possess the simcha or
other tools to deal with life’s problems.

How do you develop the bitachon to face both life’s small and great challenges?

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