It is human nature to desire, often excessively. Moses begged to enter Israel 515 times, despite knowing he didn’t deserve it. Have you ever desired something so intensely?

We live in a world of want, want, want. Without true spiritual fulfillment, we often seek validation through possessions, status, or relationships—external sources of happiness. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we frequently face disappointment: the promotion we thought was ours goes to someone else; the partner we admired begins a relationship with someone else; we scroll through pictures of vacations we wish we could experience. It’s easy to lose faith when these desires go unmet. But it is precisely in these moments that we must trust the Divine more than ever.

Instead of asking why we haven't received everything we want, we must trust that other gifts—those truly meant for us—are waiting. In this week’s portion, Vaetchanan, the second portion of the Book of Devarim, we can look to Moses as a guide. He begged 515 times to enter Israel, even while knowing he wasn’t meant to.

This is the same as when we beg the Divine for what belongs to others, instead of seeking the unique gifts already set aside for us. But how do we access them? First, we must move beyond want and enter a state of true desire. To do this, we need to cultivate our passion—whether for a soulmate, wealth, or something else—until it becomes a deep yearning. You must have faith that your gifts await you and a strong desire to reveal them.

We all know that when we get what we want, it doesn’t always fulfill us. We get the promotion, enjoy temporary pleasure, and then feel that longing for something new. We get the relationship we wanted, experience short-term happiness, and then start to find faults. We take the vacation, have a good time, and then start planning the next one. This superficial want is different from true desire. When you desire something deeply, it’s because you know it has already been planted in your potential by the Divine. This is good—it means it will one day be yours. However, to unlock it, we must transcend this cycle of wanting and, instead, cultivate a passion for what we truly crave, aligning with our purpose.

This lesson connects to the ninth of the Ten Commandments: Do not covet. When we covet what doesn’t belong to us, we block ourselves from receiving the gifts that await. Through studying the Ten Commandments, we begin to understand other ways we block ourselves from these blessings. The first commandment, Anochi Hashem ("I am God"), reminds us of the bigger picture: God created everything. When we take credit for our accomplishments, we must also recognize the Light Force of the Creator. Humility is key, remembering that humans were the last creation and that God is the ultimate source of our gifts.

The second commandment warns us not to have other gods. Gifts come from above, so it’s wrong to place heavy expectations on others to fulfill our needs in place of God. Similarly, the third commandment advises us to not use the name of God in vain. When we ask for gifts, we should do so with sincerity and in alignment with the Divine will. The commandments then remind us to honor the Shabbat—meaning we must remain focused on our divine purpose, avoiding distractions. The fifth commandment calls us to honor those who have already delivered gifts to us, such as mentors, parents, and teachers. By following these commandments, we begin to unlock the gifts meant for us.

The sixth commandment, Do not kill, extends beyond the literal. It reminds us not to kill the image of the Creator within ourselves. How? We should not shame or punish ourselves for not having everything we desire, because doing so stifles our divine potential. The next three commandments—do not commit adultery, do not steal, and do not covet—relate to wanting and taking what doesn’t belong to us, as Moses did when he begged to enter Israel. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, we must trust that the Divine will reveal what is meant for us.

Finally, the tenth commandment, Do not bear false witness, cautions us against manipulating others to get what we want. By following the Ten Commandments, we stop wasting our time pursuing things not meant for us and can focus on manifesting the gifts that are.

In a world driven by constant desire, it can be hard to focus on what we truly need. But it’s on us to trust the Divine and break free from the cycle of fleeting pleasures. In doing so, we will unlock the gifts waiting for us and live a fulfilling life in alignment with our true purpose.