When Faith Fails: Why We Keep Building Our Own Golden Calves (and How It Holds Us Back)

There are moments in life when we feel lost, when we don’t know what comes next, and when fear takes over. In those moments, instead of confronting the challenge head-on, we look for something—anything—that makes us feel safe. But sometimes, what we grab onto isn’t real security at all. It’s just a distraction.

This week’s Torah portion tells that story. Moses disappears at the top of Mount Sinai, engulfed in thunder, lightning, and mystery. The Israelites, left at the base of the mountain, feel abandoned. Even after everything they’ve witnessed—the miracles in Egypt, the splitting of the Red Sea—they panic. They convince themselves that if they can just create something tangible, something visible, their fears will go away. And so, they build the Golden Calf.

I wonder how often we do the same thing. When we feel overwhelmed, do we reach for an easy escape? Do we rewrite our own story rather than sit with our discomfort? It’s easier to turn away than to face what’s in front of us. But that never actually solves the problem. It just delays the inevitable.

Fear and uncertainty are a part of life. There will always be moments when we feel unsure of ourselves, when the world seems chaotic, and when we are tempted to take the easy way out. But the voice from Sinai still calls to us, urging us to choose honesty over illusion, responsibility over avoidance, and faith over panic.

May we all find the courage to meet life’s challenges with integrity, and may we build a future that reflects the best of who we are.