Noach is described as “ish tzadik tamim haya bdorosov, a righteous person; he was wholesome in his generation.” The sefer Maor Vashamesh points out that the word “haya — he was” seems to be extra. It could have just said “tamim bdorosov, wholesome in his generation.” What does that extra word teach us?
He answers as follows. The correct way to serve Hashem is with total simcha. We shouldn’t let any sadness come through. But the truth is, anyone who truly wants to serve Hashem will feel some sadness, because he’ll often feel he’s not doing enough or not on the madreiga he should be on. He’ll also be saddened by seeing people around him not serving Hashem.
Such a person has to be mechazek himself and be b’simcha anyways, and this is what the word “hayah” is teaching us.” Chazal teach that “v’haya” is always a word used when there is happiness (B’reishis Rabbah 42:3). Even though Noach was in a generation where people weren’t serving Hashem, he managed to strengthen himself and was still always b’simcha!
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 102.