According to Rabbi Michael Macks, in kabbalistic fundamentals, there are always 2 perspectives one can have:

Perspective of the Creation

Life contains pain, challenges, and suffering.

Perspective of the Creator

There is no suffering. G-d is entirely and unconditionally good.

When we as the creation cannot understand why something is good, we are called to practice emunah (faith) and trust that it is so, as well as logic.

There is a logical way to think about the two perspectives between creator and created.

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For example:

Chesed She’b’Gevurah - kindness within discipline - redefines our understanding of Gevurah (strength/judgment) not as a force of revenge or retribution, but as a measured, protective power that safeguards life and goodness. The Men of the Great Assembly illustrated this by restoring the descriptions “Mighty” and “Awesome” to our prayers, explaining that God’s true strength is seen in His restraint, choosing exile over destruction to preserve existence.

Gevurah, in this sense, is precise, purposeful, and serving to defend Chesed (lovingkindness), never as an end in itself. Yitzchak embodies this quality; the test of the Akeida was not his willingness to die, but his life afterward, recognizing life as an unearned gift to be fully utilized rather than justified. This awareness brings a joyful humility in the face of life’s fragility.

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Gevurah She’b’Chesed means rebuke or boundaries must come from valuing what is being protected, never as reactionary punishment or cold logic. Even in self-discipline, the goal is to honor the soul’s worth, not to control for control’s sake.

"Sometimes, what appears to be kindness on the surface is actually a form of Gevurah through limitation, like giving a child too much and preventing them from learning independence. Conversely, what appears to be strictness can actually be the deepest kindness, like assigning an employee a challenging project that causes stress at first, but ultimately helps them grow and succeed."

(M. Macks, personal communication, August 11, 2025)

The Shmoneh Esrei’s “Gevurah” blessing reflects this blend, speaking of rain, life, and resurrection, illustrating that Gevurah, like rain, dispenses life-sustaining kindness in a measured, appropriate way. In this light, Gevurah becomes not a destroyer, but a guardian of what is precious.

Gevurah she'b' Chesed requires discernment: weighing values against each other so you know which to prioritize when they clash.

References

Michael Macks. (2025). https://www.michaelmacks.com/