Rav David Ashear wrote how we hear many stories of how people were saved from difficult situation from Hashem, as a direct result of their heartfelt tefilos. It is not easy to daven emotionally every day, especially after years of not seeing the results that are hoped for.
Of course, we know that every tefilah is a mitzvah and will bring eternal rewards beyond anything we can comprehend, but we like to see results in this world as well. Sometimes, all people need is the right chizuk to give them an extra boost to Daven the way they are supposed to. Hashem could help us with that too!
Rav Ashear reports that Shevi (not the real name) told him that she was listening to a class given by Rav Zecharia Wallerstein, zt”l, and he mentioned that he one-time asked Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, zt”l, for a brachah to open a dormitory for his girls’ school.
Rav Shteinman told him, “Who said it’s the will of Hashem that you should have a dormitory?” and he did not give the brachah for it. Some time passed, and it was becoming very difficult for Rav Wallerstein to make progress with the girls. When they went home every evening, they would lose much of what they had gained during the day.
A year after his first visit, Rav Wallerstein went back to Rav Shteinman and said, “Please, give me a brachah for a dormitory. We need it so badly!” This time Rav Shteinman gave him a warm brachah to have success.
Rav Zecharia wondered out loud, “What is the difference between last year and this year that the Rav gave me two such different responses?”
Rav Shteinman replied, “Last year, you said you wanted a dormitory. This year, you said you needed a dormitory. Just because you want something doesn’t mean it is good for you. But if you really need it, Hashem will help!”
Shevi was inspired by this lesson. She had been davening for years for her son to get married. He was having a hard time with shidduchim and it seemed that her tefilos were not helping. After listening to Rav Wallerstein’s class, she davened Minchah that day with renewed strength and kavanah. She put all her emotions into the Tefilah, and told Hashem how much her son needed a shidduch.
As she finished saying Aleinu, the phone rang. It was the shadchan calling with a new suggestion for her son, and Baruch Hashem, her son married the girl who was suggested that day!
Rav Ashear commented that Shevi’s tefilah emerged that afternoon from the depths of her heart. She just needed the right words of chizuk to bring it out of her. He noted that the main aspect of every tefilah is one’s heart and sincerity!
Reprinted from the Parshas Va’eira 5784 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
