Our redemption, we will be redeemed. But waiting isn't enough. Tefillah is needed. In Mitzrayim, the time for redemption had arrived, but they also needed to daven. When they davened, the geulah happened.
The Rabbeinu b'Chayei (2:23-24) writes, "The time for redemption had arrived, but they didn't deserve to be saved. They davened a lot to Hashem, and Hashem accepted their tefillos. This teaches us that the future redemption depends on teshuvah and tefillah. To be redeemed from Mitzrayim, they needed teshuvah and tefillah," and also, to be redeemed from our present galus, we need tefillos.
The same applies when we want to eliminate destructive behaviors and customs. Sometimes, a strong desire isn't enough. We need tefillos, and then Hashem will help us.
Many Yidden had to fight in World War One. Sometimes, their wives didn't know whether their husbands were alive or dead for many years. (Communication was difficult during the war.) Women came to the Chofetz Chaim zt'l, and they cried and pleaded that he pray for them. The Chofetz Chaim cried with them, blessed them, and told them they should also daven. He said, "Go to the beis medresh, open the aron kodesh, and pour out your heart before Hashem. Hashem wants you to daven, as it states (Yeshayah 62:6-7) תחרישו אל לו דמי תתנו ואל לכם דמי אל, 'Be not silent. Give Him no rest...'
The women asked the Chofetz Chaim, "What should we say?" These women were accustomed to saying the tefillos printed in Yiddish in siddurim, such as the techinos for after lighting the Shabbos lecht and the techinos for motzei Shabbos. They didn't know how to create their own tefillah. The Chofetz Chaim told them, "Tell Hashem what is lying on your heart. When a child is hungry, he doesn't look for techinos. He cries in his own words. Do the same. Pour out your heart before your compassionate Father" (Sichos Chofetz Chaim vol.2, p.21).
The women's tefillos were certainly special tefillos because the Rabbeinu b'Chayei tells us that when one davens from amidst his tzaros, there is a greater likelihood that his tefillos will be answered. This occurred in Mitzrayim, they shouted to Hashem from amidst their tzaros, and therefore, Hashem accepted their tefillos. As it states (Shemos 2:23) אל שועתם ותעל ויזעקו העבדה מן ישראל בני ויאנחו העבודה מן האלקים, "Bnei Yisrael sighed from the labor, and they cried out, and their cry ascended to Hashem from the labor." The Or HaChaim explains that because they shouted from amidst their sorrow and suffering, Hashem answered their tefillos.
Sometimes people think, "I am going through such hardships, I don't have yishuv hadaas. This isn't a good time for tefillah." But it is exactly the opposite. If you are going through hardships, this can be the best time for tefillah because you can say a tefillah from the depths of your heart.
Sometimes, when one is going through great troubles, he can't open his mouth to pray before Hashem. He is wrapped in bitterness and can't bring himself to daven. All he can do is shout, "Oy vay!" from the depths of his heart. The Yismach Yisrael (Shemos 2, quoting his father Rebbe Yechiel of Alexander zt'l) writes that this tefillah and moan is also sufficient.
The Yismach Yisrael writes, "This gives chizuk to every Yid when he knows that Hakadosh Baruch Hu sees his troubles and sufferings, and he knows that Hashem recognizes how hard it is for him to pray before Hashem. Due to his many tzaros and aveiros, he almost can’t open his mouth in prayer before Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Nevertheless, he shouldn't give up. He should shout to Hashem with all his strength. Even if all he accomplishes with his tefillah is a single krechtz before Hashem from the depths of his heart, Hashem will take into consideration his suffering, low level, and confusion. With Hashem's immense compassion and kindness, He will listen to this moan and save him."
