Mesirus Nefesh to Have Hope

This lesson teaches an important principle: we must strengthen ourselves to constantly yearn for Hashem. Even if we're not yet able to serve Hashem properly, we must encourage ourselves not to fall but rather to have hope.

Every Jew knows that tests and challenges are an unavoidable part of life. As children, we hear stories about Jews who showed great mesirus nefesh to keep Shabbos, Pesach, and so on. So, we understand that we must strengthen ourselves to overcome challenges. Some people have to face tests that threaten to completely uproot a certain mitzvah. Others have to give up the opportunity to become wealthy by not living in a secular place without frum infrastructure. Some must fight with their arrogance, while others must struggle with desires and temptations. Everyone knows that we must show strong commitment to hold on to our Yiddishkeit and withstand these tests any way necessary.

However, what many people don't understand is how much mesirus nefesh we must have to keep our hearts burning for avodas Hashem: to always hold on to our hope and yearning to feel the inner light of Hashem's mitzvos; to cry and beg Hashem that Shabbos should be day that awakens our emunah; to plead with Hashem to give us the ability to fill our everyday activities with kedushah and not get drawn after the false charm of the material world; to awaken our awareness that Hashem always constantly renews the world each day; to be consistent in learning Torah for the sake of Heaven with a longing to come closer to Hashem, and so on.