Make the nisim happen to you too!

My family was discussing the story of neis Chanukah, and I was suddenly struck by something amazing. We all know about the neis that Hashem did for the Makabim. Just a few men, not trained warriors, lacking basic equipment, went out to war against one of the largest
armies of the day.

Picture it. Imagine if my father, my brothers and brothers in law, and perhaps an uncle and some cousins would go out to war. Just a couple of men, talmidei chachamim, business men, and young men. Imagine if they would go out and fight against the entire United States Army. And
they would win.

That is essentially what happened. It's incredible to think about. It wasn't something that could have happened naturally, ever. It was so obviously min Hashamayim.

And yet-

Imagine the way these men felt going out to war. Do you think it wasn't terrifying for them, to go out to fight, to be outnumbered by thousands to one?do you think it wasn't terrifying for these men to go out devoid of equipment and face the most advanced military equipment
of the day?

But they did go out. They fought. And they won.

I think we can learn the most incredible lesson from this. In order to experience the amazing nissim that Hashem was ready to perform for the makabim, they had to place their lives in His hands, they had to trust him to the fullest extent. And only when they put their trust in Him,
when they went out to fight, that's when the stage was set for all the nissim of Chanukah to happen.

We need to realize that Hashem's power is endless. His abilities are all-encompassing. His goodness knows no boundaries. We need to jump in, trust Him. Then, and only then, will we be able to see the nissim that Hashem is ready and waiting to perform for us.

Ah freilichen Chanukah!