Beyond Orthodox Conversion to Judaism

The next of the 48 ways to acquire Torah is accepting suffering. We don't understand why people suffer and how these things work but one thing is clear: whatever trial and tribulation a person has, is something to grow and learn from. The purpose of of these trials and tribulations is to help us strive and be better people.

Although we pray every day that we are not interested in trials and tribulations but this is how we grow. Don't we pray better and act better when our backs are against the wall and it looks like there is nowhere else to turn. Why don't we pray that way when all is going well?

Sometimes we forget about the goodness that we have and we are lulled into sleep most of the year. Why take things for granted? Shouldn't we be thankful for everything we have because in reality, if G-d doesn't want us to have it, we won't. Life hangs in the balance and things could change overnight in so many different ways.

The important lesson we learn from this is that even if we do suffer and have difficulties, nonetheless, I still have to serve G-d and keep the Torah and its mitzvos to the best of our ability. No one said this was going to be easy. Whoever said life was easy?

Even if we do suffer and have difficulties, we still have to look at what he have and the goodness that we truly have. If we are healthy and our families are healthy, aren't we the richest people in the world? After all, we are not in a hospital for anything, and we are able to eat, exercise...the little things that keep up going.

The problem is what happens when I receive some sort of difficulty or suffering? Am I ready to curse G-d straight away for what has happened or am I going to strengthen my mitzvah observance and work harder on my commitment to G-d? Sometimes we need to be pushed along to realize this and then we wake up and reach higher levels of spiritual development.