Our tradition understands that struggle intimately. Midrash Tehillim, a beautiful collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, delves into this very human feeling, using King David's words as a springboard.

In Psalm 18, David cries out, "Deliver me from my disputes, so that I will not be judged by them." But what does that really mean? Ben Azzai, a sage from the Talmudic period, sheds light on this. He suggests that David once said, "It is better for me to rule over the entire world than to rule over two rolls of bedding!" Think about that for a second. Ruling your own inner demons, your own petty squabbles, can be harder than running an empire. It's a potent reminder that true strength begins within.

And God, in turn, recognizes this struggle. The Midrash continues, saying that the Holy One, blessed be He, responded to David, saying, "David, My servant, I will make you a ruler over nations." It’s almost as if God is saying, "I see your inner battles, I acknowledge your struggles, and yet, I still believe in you."

The Psalm continues, "Deliver me from my enemies from Babylon, and from those who rise up against me from Media. Raise me from the gate of death, and rescue me from the hands of the violent." David is calling out for deliverance from external threats as well. But what’s interesting is the connection the Midrash makes between these personal pleas and the future messianic era. "Therefore, I will praise You among the nations, O Lord," David declares, followed by, "He who magnifies the salvation of His king and does kindness to His anointed, to David." And what comes after that? "The heavens declare the glory of God." It’s a chain reaction of salvation, praise, and divine glory.

But here’s where it gets really interesting. The Midrash notices a subtle difference in wording in different Psalms regarding salvation. One verse says God "magnifies" salvation, while another says God makes it "great." Rabbi Yudan explains this beautifully, saying that the redemption of Israel will not come all at once, but little by little. Why? Because, as he puts it, the people are burdened with great troubles. If redemption were to come all at once, they wouldn't be able to bear it!

Think of it like this: if you’ve been in a dark room for a long time, suddenly switching on a bright light can be blinding. You need time to adjust.

That’s why, Rabbi Yudan says, redemption is compared to dawn. "Then your light will break forth like the dawn" (Isaiah 58:8). There is no greater darkness than the one before dawn. If the sun were to suddenly blaze forth at that moment, it would be overwhelming! But the dawn rises gradually, illuminating the world bit by bit. "The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday" (Proverbs 4:18). It’s a process, a journey, a gradual unveiling of light.

And what about the "great" salvation? That, the Midrash says, is what will happen when the Mashiach, the Messiah, comes. Then, salvation will be like a mighty tower, a stronghold. "A tower of strength is the name of the Lord, to which the righteous run and are elevated" (Proverbs 18:10).

So, what does all this mean for us today? Perhaps it's a reminder to be patient, both with ourselves and with the world. Redemption, both personal and collective, is often a gradual process, a journey from darkness to light, a step-by-step unveiling of the divine. And maybe, just maybe, that's exactly how it's meant to be.