Yaakov Raskin | When life takes an unexpected turn: finding strength through divine providence

After Hurricane Melissa, many people’s realities got flipped 180 degrees. Familiar locations and routines were disrupted overnight. Not only were homes damaged, but work was halted, and families, students and governments all had to adapt to a new normal. From the relatively untouched areas in Kingston to the Western portion of the island, everyone I met grappled with the same question: How do we move forward when life no longer looks the way we expected?

There is a fundamental Jewish teaching that has helped anchor me over these past few months, that I believe can help many who are still adjusting right now. That concept is divine providence.

Divine providence is the belief that the events in our life are not random, but rather orchestrated and overseen by our Creator. From small things like the road we take to work or what we eat for breakfast, to big things like who we marry and who our friends are – these are all part of a divine plan that G-d has for us.

Divine providence doesn’t mean that life is always easy or that there are never any hardships. Rather, it offers a grounding perspective: even when events feel chaotic, unfair, or unbearable, they are not random or meaningless. There is purpose and meaning, even when we cannot see it.

In Jewish tradition, the Torah – the five books of Moses – is read in a weekly structured cycle throughout the year. Each week, a specific portion is studied around the world. This weekly Torah portion offers a lens through which people can reflect on current events and personal challenges, to seek divine wisdom and guidance.

MEANING OFTEN REVEALS ITSELF LATER

This week’s Torah portion tells the story of Joseph, a young Israelite man whose life is in a tailspin. He is sold by his brothers into slavery and taken to Egypt, far from his family and everything familiar. At that moment, nothing about his situation looks hopeful. He is assaulted and thrown in jail on false charges, languishing in a forgotten dungeon for years. It appears to be a story of injustice and loss.

But just when things appear hopeless, his story takes a dramatic turn.

Over time, using his wits and his talents, Joseph slowly frees himself from jail and rises through the ranks until he becomes the Egyptian viceroy – second only to the king. Once he rose from the low point to the highest height, he was able to devise a plan to save the entire region from famine and ultimately reunite with his estranged family.

While this story is familiar to everyone who received religious instruction, the twists and turns on Joseph’s path only make sense in hindsight. While he was walking it, it probably felt confusing, unfair and unbearable. Yet, that very path became the one that allowed Joseph to help others.

The lesson is not that suffering is good or desirable. The lesson is that meaning often reveals itself later.

Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of the Chabad movement, wrote extensively about divine providence in his book, the Tanya. He explains that divine providence extends to every detail of creation, not just the big events of life, but even something as small as a leaf falling from a tree or a blade of grass blowing in the wind. That leaf does not land where it does by accident; sometimes it falls in a specific place for a specific reason. It might be simply to provide shade for someone who will pass by later.

If purpose exists even in such small details, then surely the major turning points of our lives are not random either.

GREATEST STRENGTH

After the hurricane, it is natural to want everything to return to “normal”. But sometimes life does not go backward, it moves us forward into something new. Divine providence helps us accept the present without surrendering to it. It encourages us to rebuild, to adapt, and to keep showing up for one another, while trusting that this chapter, too, has meaning.

Many individuals are now living with hardships they might not have chosen willingly. This perspective reminds us that our worth is not defined by our circumstances, and our future is not limited by disruption. The unfamiliar road may yet become the place where resilience, compassion, and community grow strongest.

Faith, in this sense, is not an escape from reality. It is a way to stand firmly within it. As the great visionary Steve Jobs said at his famous Stanford University commencement speech: “you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

Sometimes, the greatest strength is not knowing what the big picture is – but trusting that the dots will connect. We might not know where the path will lead, but we still walk it with faith, responsibility, and care for one another. And that is how we will move forward together.

Rabbi Yaakov Raskin is Jamaica’s only rabbi and the director of Chabad Jamaica — a one-stop home for everything Jewish, and a centre dedicated to spreading kindness to all humanity. If you or someone you know needs help with food, clothing, or support, please reach out. We will do our best to connect you with assistance. email info@jewishjaamica.com