42 Journeys, Part 3: The Difficult Years; Entering Life's Harsher Challenges

Life is a journey. The Baal Shem Tov teaches that the 42 journeys of the Jewish people through the wilderness are mirrored in the 42 journeys each of us travels in our own lives.

And a wilderness is exactly what life can feel like. We enter a world that is often untamed, unpredictable, and at times even hostile. Our mission is to transform this wilderness into a home for the Divine.

But not all stages of the journey are the same.

In our early years, we are sheltered. We grow under the protection of parents, family, teachers, and loved ones. Even when challenges arise, we are buffered by the security of home.

As we mature, however, we venture further into life's wilderness. The adversaries become more formidable. The tests become more personal. The stakes become higher.

The first twelve journeys are closer to civilization, the challenges are easier. But beginning with the thirteenth journey, we enter into more dangerous territory. The Torah describes it as a "great and fearsome desert," a place of snakes, scorpions, and thirst. The travelers are now entering the harsher realities of life.

It is no coincidence that at this stage they begin traveling with the Ark and the Sanctuary in their midst. When the terrain becomes more difficult, we need greater spiritual resources. We do not enter life's battles unarmed. We carry with us our deepest values, our faith, our purpose, and the sacred truths that guide us through the darkness.

So it is in our own lives. As we grow older and take on greater responsibilities, we need greater strength. The challenges become more demanding, but so do the opportunities to build, create, and transform.

Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for Part Four of our seven-part series, The 42 Journeys of Life: Will You Build a Home—or Just Live in One? For it is precisely in the wilderness that we discover our power not merely to survive, but to create a sanctuary—a home for ourselves, our loved ones, and the Divine presence in this world.