Have you ever looked at a difficult task and thought, “I’m just not capable of doing this”? Sometimes, the ability we need is already inside us—we just haven't discovered it yet.
In this week's parsha, the Mishkan and all its vessels are completed. Moshe then gives an accounting of all the gold, silver, and copper that was donated. The Jewish people had performed complex work like weaving, sewing, and craftsmanship. But where did they learn these skills after years of slavery in Egypt?
The answer is that their desire to build the Mishkan brought out talents they didn't even know they had. When we truly want to accomplish something meaningful, we can discover abilities that were hidden within us.
Rabbeinu Tam's story teaches a similar lesson. After his grandfather Rashi passed away, his mother was crying. The young Rabbeinu Tam told her, “I'm going to re-ignite that light.” He grew up to become one of the greatest Torah scholars of his generation.
We should never be too quick to say, “I can't.” Sometimes, what we're missing isn't ability—it’s the determination to try.