Episode 47 - Gratitude, Suffering, And "The Love Letter"

What if purgatory isn’t fire and pitchforks, but the slow burn of bitterness that steals joy from every corner of life? We dig into a counterintuitive idea: the prescription of pain may be set, yet the suffering we feel is shaped by our response. Through a clear, compassionate lens, we explore how trust and gratitude can shrink the weight of hard days and expand the calm we carry into Shabbat and beyond.

We start with a frank look at progress—less about grand leaps and more about steady steps. From there, we reframe hardship as purposeful rather than random. You’ll hear a vivid analogy of a mother choosing a difficult surgery to save her child, illustrating how pain with purpose is endured differently than pain that feels senseless. The point isn’t to pretend challenges are easy; it’s to stop adding extra suffering by fighting the fact that they’re here. That shift moves us from “why me” to “what now,” from worry and pettiness to courage and clarity.

To anchor the mindset, we share a powerful gratitude prayer—part love letter, part reset button—that thanks for breath and strength, for healing and correction, for what we have and even for what’s missing. Each line trains the heart to see life as precise and intentional, turning resentment into trust. We talk about how daily thanks can rewire attention, soften reactions, and improve relationships, so obstacles become teachers instead of tormentors. As we close, we invite you to start your mornings with gratitude and watch how the same facts begin to feel different—lighter, steadier, more hopeful.

If this conversation helped you breathe a little easier, save it, share it with a friend who needs a lift, and subscribe for more moments that build trust and purpose. We’d love to hear your takeaways—drop a line, leave a review, and tag us with a quote that stuck with you.

Transcript

Weekly Reflection And Momentum

Reframing Suffering And Divine Purpose

Purgatory As Bitterness In Life

Response Over Circumstance

The Prescription Of Suffering

The Mother And Surgery Analogy

Introducing The Gratitude Prayer

Gratitude As Daily Practice

Closing And Listener Invitation

SPEAKER_00 0:12

Welcome to the Trust Factor Podcast, the only podcast that guarantees your success when you implement its divine age old teachings. Good morning, everybody. Welcome to another episode on Friday, leading into Shabbat. It's that day, my friends. We cleared out another week. We hopefully did an amazing job. We improved this week over our previous weeks, and every week should continue to feel like you were taking another step in the right direction. It doesn't have to be monumental. It could be small baby steps, my friends. That's how you win the game, slow and steady. Yesterday we got into this whole conversation about why we're doing the things that we're doing, how we're acknowledging God's hand in our life, and why we need to acknowledge the tribulations as coming from him in order to give us a life, an eternal life of paradise. But it's more than that. Purgatory, you've heard that word before. Purgatory, it's a fancy word. It's usually associated with the worst part of the next world where some people go when they don't do what they're supposed to do in this world. But here's the news Purgatory, like the book says, is not some fiery pit of horror, pitchforks, guys with horns, all that ridiculousness that you saw in Hollywood. It's a life of bitterness, a lack of satisfaction, for nothing is worse. A bitter and unsatisfied person is prone to arguments, anger, worry, pettiness. It's not the challenges like we said yesterday. It's not the people who are giving you a hard time that makes this unsatisfied individual who they are bitter and miserable. It's not the challenge itself. It's their response to the challenge. Yesterday my dear wife and I were driving in a car, and she's my number one fan. She listens to the podcast regularly. But when I'm with her and she's listening to it, she pauses it every few seconds and asks me to clarify or to go in deeper or to give me a personal situation that applies specifically to her. Okay, that's my job. Yesterday we talked about this, and what did we say? We talked about the statement yesterday. God determines the prescription of suffering for each one of us, but we determine how much we suffer. Very, very big difference and very deep concept. Think about that over Shabbat, my friends. It's a very important principle, and it's deep. It might seem surface, but it's not. What we are saying effectively is that we are in charge and in control of the amount of suffering that we actually endure in this life. You are given a prescription for 50% suffering, but you suffer five percent. How does that happen? How can you only suffer 5% when you were prescribed 50? And the answer is because you understand that it is all for your benefit. As soon as you get that, as soon as you know what the source of your challenge is, all your concern, all your bitterness, all of your misery fades away because you know it's coming from a perfect place. What's it like? I gave an example yesterday to my wife while we were driving. A pregnant woman has, God forbid, a child that is very sickly inside of her, and that child is developing. But if that child is allowed to continue developing in the way that it is, it simply will not survive the delivery. And so in order to ensure that that baby is growing, is healthy and able and strong enough to be able to survive that delivery, the woman has to go under the knife. The doctors have to operate while the baby is in the womb. And now the mother has to make that decision. Is it even a question when the doctors tell her very clearly that if you don't do this, your child will die? But if you want to save your child's life and make sure that they have the best shot at surviving and thriving, we have to go in and do this. And as difficult as it may seem, every single mother who cares about the child and the well-being of her child will rush and say, Doctor, you tell me what we need to do and I will assist you. If you don't have somebody in the operating room to hand you the scalpel, I'll hand it to you. Get in there and do whatever you can, even though it's painful, even though it's difficult and challenging and worrisome. Doesn't matter. Get in there and do what you need to do to ensure that this child survives. It is a trauma, but you do not suffer through it. You go through it with a sense of calm and ease, understanding and acceptance, because you know it is for that child's own good and ultimately yours. Now, yesterday I promised you guys that there is a love letter. I call it a love letter. They call it a prayer. It's in a lot of the texts that belong to the Brezhnev movement. And it is a note, it is a love note to the creator to say thank you for everything in this world. And it is such a powerful tool. If you want a copy of it, let me know, reach out, and I'll send you a copy. But here's how it goes, okay? I'm going to read it to you in Hebrew and I'm going to translate it to the English. It goes like this. It's called Tfilatodam, a prayer of thanks to the creator of the world. And it goes like this. Melech Malcham Lakim, Akadosh Baruch, King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be he, Adon Olam, Ribonoshelam, Master of the Universe, Creator of the Universe. Toda, thank you. Todasani Omed Kanlefaneha Omodelekha, thank you that I'm able to even stand here and give thanks to you. Biholmashani Omer Iekes and everything that I'm about to say is nothing. Lumad Kama Shani Bemetzarichlodlacha is really nothing compared to how much thanks and praise I need to give to you. Because really, on everything I have to give thanks. You made me happy. Rifitauti, you made me healthy, you healed me. Shamalta, you saved me. Odataoti, you reproved me. Toda Shaata it, thank you, Hashem, that you are always with me. Toda Shahatanotenli Koachla Sot Mitzvah, thank you for giving me strength to do mitzvahs. Koachla Sotma Asim Tovim, strength that you give me to do good deeds. The Kochlahit Palal and the strength that you give me to pray. Toda al Kolha Pa Amim Shahazatali, thank you for all the times that you helped me. Veloya Dati La Gidla Hatha, and I didn't know how to say thank you. Toda al Kola Hasadim Shaata Ose, thank you for all the kindness that you do with me. Bekol Rega Verega every second of the day. Toda al Kol Nish Neshima Uneshima Shaani Noshem, thank you for every single breath that I take. Todalekha Melech Machemelahim, thank you, God King of Kings. Gam al Koladvarim Shaenli, even for the things that I don't have. Thank you that it's even hard for me sometimes. Kihakola Tovati, because everything is for my own good. Afilu Imlo Tamidra Iti Shizelatovati, even if I didn't see and I wasn't aware that it was for my own good. Amok Balev, deep within my heart, Aniodea, Shekol Mashumagi, I know that everything that comes from you, who hadovbeoter, that is the best thing that can happen, Avui, on my behalf. And that was done specifically and exclusively for me. Bashka Pratit Meduit Umushlemit in a divine providential way, in a way that it is exacting and perfect. Kemos Melech Machem Lachimia Holasod in the only way that the master of the universe is capable of doing. Toda Shalifa Aim Kashali, thank you that sometimes it's difficult for me. Kirak kahatov because only by seeing the challenges am I able to appreciate the good things in my life. Kira Shanimzaim Bachoshach, because only when we are in darkness, if Sharlach eta or can we appreciate the light. Todaim Aniflaim Shanatatali, thank you for the wonderful life that you gave me. Toda Al Hadavara Hika Tan Shayeshli, thank you for the smallest things that I have. Ki etakol Atanatatali because everything you gave me Velo afadaker and nobody else, only you. Toda Shatashome etatfilocheli. Thank you that you listened to my prayers. Bo Lam, creator of the world, Anime Vakeshmi Mechasliha, I ask from you forgiveness. Meim Kelibi from the depth of my heart, Imhaim Sheloha Erahti Et Mashanatatali. If there were times that I didn't appreciate Uvimkom Lomar Lechato Daquit Lonanti, and instead of saying thank you, I only complained. Ani Afarva Efer I am dust. Anna Altichakmi Mani Laulam, please don't distance yourself from me ever. That is a letter of thanks to the creator of the world. Could you just imagine starting your day every day with that prayer? It acknowledges everything. It acknowledges the good, it acknowledges the seemingly bad, it acknowledges that we don't know the difference, and that he runs the world, and all we have to do day in and day out is be grateful. Gratitude is the secret ingredient, my friends. Use it every day. Start your day with gratitude, and I guarantee you you will see so much more of the goodness that's in your life. Have an amazing Shabbat. We'll chat again on Sunday. Thank you for spending time with us on the Trust Factor Podcast. If you've heard something today that moved you, save this episode and share it with someone who might need to hear it. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss upcoming conversations that challenge, empower, and uplift. And if you're on social media, connect with us. Leave your thoughts, drop a quote that resonated with you. Hashtag the TrustFactor Podcast. Until next time, keep growing in your trust and keep living with purpose. I'm Jesse Revivo, and this has been the Trust Factor Podcast. Thanks for listening.