Why Life's Challenges Are Like Big Waves: A Lesson on Strength

Rabbi Eliezer Yudkovsky offers an insightful explanation of a statement from the Gemara: "Rabbi Zeira said, anyone who goes seven days without a bad dream is called 'bad.'" If a week goes by and a person hasn’t experienced a bad dream, it’s considered a bad sign (Berachot 14a).

At first, this might sound puzzling. After all, who wouldn’t want peaceful, uninterrupted sleep? But Rabbi Yudkovsky helps us understand the deeper meaning. He explains, "It’s considered bad because the person is not being tested or scrutinized. Hashem seems to be saying, ‘I don’t need to challenge this person, let them sleep peacefully.’"

So, who does Hashem give challenges to? The ones who are strong enough to handle them. Rabbi Yudkovsky compares this to weightlifting. "Challenges are given to those we want to see grow stronger. If a person is already weak and unlikely to grow stronger, we don’t burden them with challenges. There’s no point in asking them to lift heavy weights."

Rabbi Yudkovsky continues with an analogy to surfing: "In the winter, when people talk about ‘wave height,’ a wave of 5 or 6 meters is something professional surfers eagerly look forward to. They get excited because they know this is the time to grab their surfboards and head out to the sea. But you might ask, 'Are you crazy? If the waves are that high, you should stay home, get cozy under a blanket, and enjoy the warmth!'"

"But no!" Rabbi Yudkovsky exclaims. "Every surfer knows that the best time to surf is when the waves are big. A small wave, only one or two meters, doesn’t challenge the surfer. It’s not enough to test their abilities."

The same is true for life's challenges. When the waves of difficulty are high, that's the time to face them head-on. These challenges are given to those who can rise to meet them. Rabbi Yudkovsky concludes, "Trials are meant to bring out your inner strength. They help you grow and become the person you’re meant to be."