Take the Next Step

Several years ago, the World Health Organization named stress “the health epidemic of the 21st century.” We feel crushed by life’s demands. For many, the solution is to suction all the obligations out of life. They think the only way to be happy and healthy is to have no responsibilities.

Of course, we don’t buy that nonsense. Hashem wants us to grow, not just exist. He gave us the mitzvos, and other life obligations, to build us and elevate us to greatness. But if we don’t know how to deal with the demands of Torah, and of life in general, the pressure those demands create threatens to drag us down.

At work, at school, at home — we’re always challenged to do more and do better than we feel capable of. Those demands make us nervous and unable to deal with the challenge. We need to find a way to take on challenges calmly and confidently. But how can we be confident when we feel we just can’t do it?

In parshas Chukas, Moshe Rabbeinu hit the rock with his staff, and it gave forth water. He reasoned that ordering the rock to produce water wouldn’t work, because it had no water to give. But Hashem wanted him to speak to the rock. Had Moshe spoken to the rock, it would have fulfilled his command without coercion. Moshe was right — the rock had no water. But if he were to command the rock, the water would come out of nowhere.