You Have the Strength | Rabbi Moshe Schmelczer

One of the reasons we sometimes fail when faced with a Nisayon is because we feel we cannot be strong enough to withstand this daunting task. We need to realize this is simply not true. Hashem does not present a person with a Nisayon that he cannot pass with flying colors. Hashem, knowing that we can do it, waits with eager anticipation for the Nachas, when we are victorious. Avraham Avinu was עומד בניסיון in the face of Akeidas Yitzchak. Yitzchak Avinu also passed that Nisayon. The pasuk says, the Chazal tell us, Although he understood he’s on his way to his own Shechita, Yitzchak went enthusiastically, just like Avraham. So then how is it possible that the news of the Akeida was the catalyst for Sarah Imenu’s death? Chazal tell us that Avraham was טפל to Sarah in נבואה. Her greatness was on par with that of Avraham Avinu. You're telling me she couldn't withstand the news of the Akeida to the point that it caused her own demise? The answer may be because it wasn't her Nisayon. It was exclusively a Nisayon for Avraham and Yitzchak. Therefore, they had the ability to overcome it. If it would have been Sarah's Nisayon, she would have been given the ability to withstand it. A Gvir visited the city of Radin, and while he was there, the news came from his hometown that there was a big שריפה and a lot of businesses burnt down, including his own. When he heard the news, he fainted. They brought him to, he fainted right away again. It happened a third time and a fourth time. He couldn't stay conscious. The Chafetz Chaim bent down and whispered something in his ear. He got up and he was fine. They asked him, What did the Chafetz Chaim whisper in your ear? He said: The Chafetz Chaim whispered in my ear that my business was fine. It wasn't touched by the fire. So they asked the Chafetz Chaim later, You're a Navi? How did you know that his business didn't burn down? The Chafetz Chaim said: I'm not a Navi, but I saw that he couldn't handle this news. Hashem would not present him with a situation that he wouldn't be able to handle. It must be that the information wasn't true. All of our Nisyonos are custom-made for us, and the strength necessary to be victorious is included in the package.