| "When a soul brings an offering…"
(Leviticus 2:1)
Rashi explains: "The Holy One, blessed be He, says: I consider it as if he has offered his very soul."
(Rashi)
There is no need to elaborate at length about our current situation—how impoverished we are in understanding, truly poor in da'at. And therefore, when we direct our nefesh—our inner will and desire—toward HaShem, there is no greater satisfaction before Him than this.
When we turn our will toward Him, we also begin to emerge from this poverty of mind. The more we persist in this, the more we merit to reach a true richness of understanding - to recognize that HaShem alone guides the world, and that we have no ability to live without a constant sense of dependence on Him.
The reality of living with uncertainty, anxiety, confusion - this, unfortunately, defines much of life today, especially in our generation.
Reb Noson, in Hilchos Pikadon, refers to this as "night" - a time of darkness, where there is no sense of control. Our natural tendency is to want control over everything. Even when taking a short trip on a familiar route, a person may still turn on navigation just to know exactly when he will arrive - seeking total control over every detail. This is the essence of the "kingdom of Esav" in its fullest form.
Then come moments of testing—wars and upheavals—where we see clearly that the more we release our grip on control and place it in the hands of HaShem, and understand that without tefillah and hitbodedut we are nothing - despite all our apparent strength.
(As we saw, for example, on Simchat Torah, despite all the advanced security, how easily destruction broke through…)
When a person becomes willing to live with uncertainty, and turns constantly to HaShem in prayer—asking Him to guide every step, recognizing that He is the One in control and not us—then he begins to see with absolute clarity, like the brightness of daylight, that there is a true Leader of the world, and without Him nothing can help us.
When a person accepts and is willing to live in this "night," accepting the Kingship of HaShem, that very darkness begins to shine like day. Then one can live with emunah and calm, even in the night - transforming from poverty into true wealth of understanding.
May it be HaShem's will that we merit to become completely dependent on Him.
Shabbat Shalom | 
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