During the festival of Purim we recite the Al Hanisim prayer. The prayer reads, "and for the miracles and for the salvations and for the mighty deeds and for the victories and for the wonders and for the consolations and for the battles which You performed for our ancestors in those days, at this time." In this declaration of thanks, we use many expressions of gratitude for the wonders and miracles and salvations and so forth. However, why do we end the phrase thanking G-d for the battles? I can understand thanking G-d for the victories from the battles, but why should we thank G-d for the actual battles themselves? Why is that also a gratitude and appreciation?

One inherent outcome of fighting battles is that we are forced to grow. Fighting battles brings out the best in us. Only when the going gets tough, do the tough get going. We do not have to look any further than the recent events which took place among Israeli citizens during Operation Amud Anan [Pillar of Defense] against our enemies in Gaza. In the midst of the hail of deadly missiles raining down on our cities, spectacular acts of courage, heroism, and generosity took place as a result of people rising to the challenge. This is one of the gratitudes that we can focus on this Purim.

Whatever challenges and hardships we are each individually facing, whether they be familial, inter-personal or communal, they have been uniquely given to us, carefully designed by G-d, to enhance our spiritual growth. It is through our struggle, that we can grow, progress, and reach great heights of Kedusha.

On Purim, we thank G-d for our victories, but we also thank Him for our struggles for through them we can progress to become truly great and reach our maximal spiritual potential. As the Mishnah in Tractate Avot teaches, "according to the pain is the gain".

Therefore, this Purim let us all focus not only on the real victories but also on the real battles in our personal lives. May our personal struggles and efforts hasten the redemption and coming of Moshiach speedily in our time.