“Yitzchok pressed G-d in prayer on behalf of his wife because she was barren (Genesis 25:21).”
 
Why should the most righteous individuals of history be barren and forced to suffer? Not only was Rivka barren, but all the Matriarchs had trouble conceiving. Some opinions even say the Patriarchs were sterile. One answer lies in the words of the sages: “G-d loves the prayers of the righteous”. If G-d were to give us everything we would ever desire, why pray – pray-tell? Who would need G-d if everything was abundantly provided for us?
 
G-d did not need to create a world with pain or misfortune. He could have just as easily put us in whatever paradise-like set up He could conjure. But, according to the deep insight of the Torah, this would not be the greatest good He could bestow. Our rabbis teach us that G-d, who is pure good, axiomatically wanted to bestow the greatest possible good to another. This could only be accomplished if the recipient of His kindness would not feel ashamed or undeserving of the kindness received. Of course one might enjoy the pleasure of the moment, but there would never be the much greater pleasure of self-accomplishment. One would never reap the “fruits” of their own labors.
 
The Ultimate Wisdom therefore gives us the opportunity to earn our own reward and to become the master of our own good. By enduring and learning from life’s tailor-made challenges, we are given the opportunity to grow and to achieve the greatest levels of self-perfection. On a deeper level, by our emulating His ways of mercy, justice and kindness, we become more G-d-like, becoming closer to Him.
 
Because of G-d’s unbounded love for us, He may withhold His blessings or even allow us to suffer. At times it may be to arouse us to pray to Him for help, to motivate us to grow in character, or to save us from an unforeseen calamity. Today, parenting terminology calls it “tough love” – when the parent needs to withhold or punish the child in order to teach them proper behavior (when positive reward has failed). G-d is like a loving parent who only wants our very best. And only He knows our real inner-strength and potential.
 
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