We all do, at some point. And that feeling, that yearning, is captured beautifully in the ancient collection of teachings known as Midrash Tehillim, specifically Midrash Tehillim 36, which explores the verse from Psalms: "For with You is the source of life; by Your light we see light."

Rabbi Yochanan offers a story that resonates deeply. Imagine someone trying to light a candle on Shabbat, but it keeps sputtering out. Frustrated, they think, "Why struggle? I'll just wait for the sun to rise." This simple image becomes a powerful metaphor for the Jewish people’s relationship with redemption.

Think about it. We were enslaved in Egypt, redeemed by Moses and Aaron. Enslaved again in Babylon, redeemed by Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Then came the Greeks, and Mattathias the Hasmonean and his sons rose up. But after Rome… after all that struggle, the people said, "We've struggled enough. We won't seek help from flesh and blood anymore. We'll turn only to the Holy One, blessed be He." As the verse says, "O Hashem, shine Your light upon us." (Hashem is a common way of referring to God.)

Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish adds a fascinating layer. He says that God asks Israel, "Do you want to count yourselves among the other nations?" And the people respond, "Master of the Universe, let not my heart be drawn to any evil thing." Why? Because those other nations "are like those who play with evil." Even their pleasant gifts, we don't seek. "I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood," the verse says. Our desire, our true longing, is "For with You is the source of life; by Your light we see light."

It's a powerful rejection of fleeting, potentially corrupting influences, and a steadfast commitment to divine guidance. We find solace and meaning not in external validation but in the unwavering light of the Divine.

Rabbi Oshaya, quoting Rabbi Pinchas, offers a glimpse into the future: "In the future, Jerusalem will become a metropolis for all the nations to come." As it says, "And the nations will walk by its light." Imagine Jerusalem as a beacon, drawing all peoples to its illuminating wisdom.

Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani adds to this vision. He says that in this world, while Israel is in service, they are servants of the sun and moon. But in the future, they won't need those celestial bodies. "And the sun will no longer be your light by day," the verse proclaims. Instead, the Holy One, blessed be He, "will be your everlasting light." What a beautiful image of divine illumination!

Rabbi Pinchas, in the name of Rabbi Reuven, paints an even more vivid picture: "The Holy One, blessed be He, will bring the Beit Hamikdash to Tavor and Carmel, and He will give Jerusalem the lead." (The Beit Hamikdash is the Holy Temple.) This is based on the verse, "And the mount of the house of the LORD shall be established on the top of the mountains" (Micah 4:1). Jerusalem, elevated and radiant, the center of spiritual gravity.

Rabbi Yehuda adds that in that future, we are destined to sing hymns of praise to God, "And the city of God shall be established in joyous song" (Psalms 87:3).

So, what does it all mean? This midrash, this interpretation of scripture, offers a powerful message of hope and resilience. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, when we feel lost and alone, the source of light is always within reach. It’s a call to resist the allure of fleeting, potentially corrupting influences and to embrace the enduring light of the Divine. And it paints a beautiful vision of a future where Jerusalem shines as a beacon of hope and spiritual fulfillment for all humanity. Maybe, just maybe, that light is already starting to glimmer.