He who walks the path of righteousness must prepare his soul for affliction. Let none be shaken by the fire that tries them, for such is the portion of the chosen in every generation. The sons of darkness cannot comprehend the light of the sons of righteousness. They gnash their teeth when confronted by holiness, for their works are evil and their hearts are uncircumcised. They hate what they do not understand, and they persecute what they fear. But I say to you, beloved of Alaha, count it not strange when you are hated, reviled, cast out, and brought low for the sake of righteousness. This is your calling and your sanctification.
From the beginning, the righteous have suffered. Abel was murdered by his own brother because his deeds were righteous. The prophets were slain by the very people to whom they were sent. The righteous ones have dwelt in caves, wandered in deserts, hidden in holes of the earth, clothed in sackcloth, despised by kings and priests alike. And yet, though they were afflicted, their spirits rejoiced, for they knew the reward of Mar-Yah Alaha is sure.
Hear now the deeper mystery, O those who walk upon the Way, you who yearn for understanding in the midst of your affliction. For many, when the fires of trial arise, they think within their soul, “Why has Alaha turned His face from me? Why does the Holy One afflict me though my hands are clean?” But I say to you with certainty and by the wisdom from above that the suffering of the righteous is not the rod of wrath, but the touch of the Refiner. Alaha, Who is just and compassionate, does not strike His children in anger, but in love He disciplines and purifies them. The righteous man is not tormented as the wicked are tormented. The wicked are broken as clay vessels dashed to pieces; but the righteous are as silver and gold placed into the furnace—not to be destroyed, but to be made pure. The fire reveals what is hidden. The fire exposes what is unclean. The fire is the loving hand of the Master Smith, separating the precious from the profane.
Consider the furnace of affliction. It is not stoked by hatred but by mercy. It is not fuelled by wrath, but by zeal for holiness. The dross in the silver is pride, self-dependence, fear, vanity, false security, secret desire. These things must be removed, and only divine fire will do it. The soul that desires to be presented blameless before the throne of Alaha must be refined. If the vessel is to hold the new wine of the kingdom, it must be purged of the old leaven. If the tree is to bear fruit that will endure, the dead branches must be cut away. He who would wear the crown of life must first wear the crown of thorns. He who would sit at the table of the King must first be found faithful in the wilderness. The yoke is heavy, yes—but it is the yoke of the Firstborn, the Anointed One, Yeshua Mshikha. He bore the weight of obedience unto death. Shall you not also bear the weight of endurance unto life?
Do not mistake silence for abandonment. Alaha is not distant. He is as close to the brokenhearted as breath to the lungs. When you weep in the night, He records your tears. They are gathered—not in a common vessel, not in an earthen jar—but in His golden pot, holy and set apart, kept in the sanctuary of His remembrance. Your tears are not lost to the wind. They rise like incense before Him, and He counts each one with tender regard. For every drop that falls in sorrow, a weight of glory is stored in the heavens. This glory does not fade with time. It is not the applause of men or the prosperity of the world. It is the honour of being conformed to the image of His Son. It is the joy of standing in His presence, purified, radiant, sanctified by trial. The sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared to the splendour that shall be revealed in the righteous.
You are not forsaken. Let this be written in the depths of your being. You are not forgotten. The eyes of Alaha do not wander aimlessly; they are fixed upon you. He sees your labour, your sorrow, your faithfulness in obscurity and in isolation. He listens for your cry even when no one else hears. He is not slack in coming to your aid, but He is working in you a sanctification that is eternal.
Blessed are you when you are afflicted for righteousness’ sake, for you are being fashioned into a vessel fit for honour. You are being prepared for the world to come. Take courage, then, O you faithful ones. The fire shall not consume you, but it shall complete you. When you pass through the flame, you shall emerge as refined gold, shining with the brightness of Alaha’s favour. This is my counsel to the afflicted remnant. Hold fast. Do not let go of hope. The end of all suffering for the righteous is glory, and the hand of Alaha is shaping you even now.
Yeshua Mshikha bar Alaha, the Holy One of Israel, bore the shame and the scourging. He was rejected, beaten, and crucified outside the city, like a leper and a criminal. And yet, He committed no sin. Why, then, should you be surprised if the same world that rejected the Master also rejects His servants? Shall the disciple be exalted above his Rabbi? If they called the Master of the house Beelzebul, what shall they call the members of His household?
Do not envy the wicked when they prosper. Their prosperity is like a flower that blooms in the morning but withers in the heat of the day. Their laughter shall be turned to wailing, and their strength shall melt like wax before the flame. They heap up riches and walk in pride, but the day is near when their feet shall slip, and there shall be none to deliver them. The judgement of Alaha is not idle, and His justice does not slumber.
The righteous are tested, but not abandoned. They are crushed, but not destroyed. In the darkness, their light shines all the brighter. In the wilderness, they hear the voice of Alaha. When the storm rages, the righteous find refuge under His wings. You are sons and daughters of the covenant, a remnant preserved for the glory of His Name. Stand firm, O faithful ones, and do not retreat. Though your path is steep and narrow, it leads to life eternal. Though your hands are weary and your heart is heavy, your reward is prepared before the throne. Endure, therefore. Endure not in bitterness, but in hope. Endure not in complaint, but in praise. Let your suffering be a testimony before men and angels, that you are worthy to partake in the sufferings of Mshikha. Let your endurance be as incense rising before the Most High. For the day is coming when every tear shall be wiped away. The oppressors shall be brought low, and the humble shall be lifted up. The righteous shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Let this word be sealed in your heart, my brethren, that affliction is the anointing of the righteous. Suffering is the narrow gate that leads to the sanctuary of Alaha. He who endures to the end shall see the face of the King in His beauty and shall rejoice with joy unspeakable.
Chayim bar Ya’aqub
7 May 2025