In Parashat BeHukkotai, God promises reward for good behavior, that is—following the mitzvot, and punishment for its opposite—abandoning the mitzvot.  However, according to the Sifra, God is not merely asking for compliance or obedience to the precepts of the Torah, but rather hard work and effort in understanding the Torah and becoming the people who we are charged to be.  According to this midrash, the mitzvah of בחקתי תלכו, you shall walk in My ways is not God’s commanding us to succeed, but rather God’s asking us to work hard.