Often, when I speak of the importance of not getting upset on Shabbos, people ask whether this implies that it’s acceptable to become agitated and upset on weekdays.

This question has already been raised by the Chida, in his work Ruach Chaim. The context of the Chida’s discussion is the pasuk (Shemos 35:3), “Do not kindle fire in all your residences on the Shabbos day.” The Zohar interprets this pasuk as referring not only to the actual kindling of fire, but also to igniting the “fire” of anger and rage. The Torah here teaches us that we must avoid anger on Shabbos. The Chida asks, why are we told to avoid anger specifically on Shabbos? Is anger acceptable at other times? Should we conclude on the basis of the Zohar that there is nothing wrong with getting angry during the workweek?

The Chida answers that certainly, anger is to be avoided at all times. The Zohar’s intent, he explains, is that anger is especially harmful on Shabbos, as indicated by the Torah’s warning not to kindle a flame “in all your residences.” Anger on Shabbos has a widespread destructive effect, causing harm in “all your residences,” and therefore special care must be taken on Shabbos not to lose one’s temper.

The question remains, however, why is this the case? Why is anger especially severe on Shabbos?

The experience of Shabbos is described as mei’ein Olam Haba — a “taste” or representation of the Next World. On Shabbos, we are able to experience, on some level, the idyllic conditions of Olam Haba. And the Gemara (Pesachim 50a) teaches that whereas in this world we respond to tragedy by reciting the berachah of Dayan HaEmes, “the true Judge,” acknowledging the justice of G-d’s harsh decisions, in the future, we will recite the berachah of Hatov VeHaMeitiv, “Who is good and does good,” over all events. In the Next World, it will become perfectly clear how everything is good. We will not have to struggle to accept G-d’s judgment, because it will be obvious that everything He does is for the best. Events that here in this world seem tragic will seem to us as causes for joy, just like the happiest moments in this world. Similarly, the pasuk says that in the Next World, “Hashem will be One, and His Name will be One” (Zechariah 14:9). Of course, Hashem already is only one G-d. However, in this world, we see a distinction between good and bad, between good fortune and misfortune. In the Next World, however, it will be clear and evident that everything is caused by Hashem, Who is entirely good.

Shabbos allows us to approach life and the world with this mindset, at least on some level. On Shabbos, we are able to recognize more clearly than during the week that everything that happens is for the best. And thus we recite in the Minchah prayer on Shabbos, Atah echad v’shimcha echad — “You are One, and Your Name is One.” We are able to truly appreciate the “oneness” of G-d, that there is no difference at all between that which appears to be good and that which appears to be bad.

The story is told of Rav Ephraim Zalman Margoliyos, the author of Beis Ephraim and other important Torah works, who was an outstanding scholar as well as a very wealthy man. Once he bought an exquisite, very expensive decanter with a matching tray and cups, and gave them to his wife. His wife was thrilled with the beautiful set, and decided to save them for Simchas Torah, when the entire community would come to their house to celebrate. Finally, Simchas Torah came, and one of the servants, a young orphan, was carrying the set to serve the guests. Unfortunately, she slipped and fell, and the entire set broke into small pieces. The young woman fainted from embarrassment, and the rabbi’s wife was inconsolable. It was a terrible scene.

The wife noticed that her husband, Rav Ephraim Zalman, remained perfectly calm and showed no signs at all of being agitated or upset. She asked him why he was not reacting to what had just happened, and he replied, “Ask me next Simchas Torah.”

Sure enough, the following year, during the Simchas Torah festivities, his wife turned to him and asked why had not gotten upset when the exquisite glass set broke the previous year.

“Does it bother you now?” the rabbi asked his wife.

“No,” she replied. “I’ve gotten over it.”

The rabbi explained, “Exactly. I just figured it out more quickly than you did. I realized already then when it happened that it wasn’t such a big deal.”

When we get caught in the moment, then we become upset. But if we can fast forward in our minds to the future, and try to see things from the future’s perspective, then we can take everything in stride.

Shabbos is the time for us to have this “futuristic” perspective, to see everything clearly, within a broader picture, and in its proper proportion. If we can see all things from this vantage point, then we will remain calm and composed even when difficult challenges arise.

But how do we do it? How can we avoid getting stuck in the moment, and see things from the proper perspective?

Rav Elimelech Biderman, in his commentary to the Haggadah, tells the story of a religious adviser to a king who would react to all events by saying, “Gam zu l’tovah — This, too, is for the best.” The king found this practice irritating. After all, he thought, not everything is for the best. Some things are just plain bad.

Once, the king went out to the woods with his men to hunt for sport. During the trip, someone accidentally shot a bullet that pierced the king’s leg. Although it was not a life-threatening situation, the king was in excruciating pain and was bleeding. He heard his adviser say, “This, too, is for the best.”

This was too much for the king. How could a serious bullet wound in the leg be good? He reprimanded his adviser and sent him away.

Shortly thereafter, when the group was still in the woods, the king was captured by a band of cannibals, who tied him up and were about to kill him and eat his flesh. Just then, the leader of the band noticed the wound on the king’s leg. He was afraid that the king might have an infection, and he and his men might become sick if they ate his flesh. They released the king and let him go.

When the king later saw his adviser, the adviser said, “You see — if you weren’t shot in the leg, you would have been killed. And if you hadn’t sent me away, I would have been killed.”

So often in life, we realize how situations that seemed unfortunate were, in fact, the source of great blessing. In our world, it is not always evident how everything is good. But each week, on Shabbos, we get a glimpse of the World to Come, when such clarity will be attained. If we make a special effort on Shabbos to view everything from this Olam Haba perspective, then we will never become upset or angry. We will recognize that everything is truly for the best, and we will enjoy peace, serenity, and joy regardless of the circumstances, and this beautiful experience will then profoundly impact our entire week and our entire life.

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Reprinted from Embrace Shabbos by Rabbi David Sutton with permission from Artscroll Mesorah.