Getting to the Root
Tefillah was created in order to provide for the lacks of a person. Now, which deficiencies actually matter? Not the trivial and inconsequential ones! The main significant lack is the spiritual one—and not only because ruchniyus is forever and is the main aspect of life, but because when a person lacks ruchniyus, he doesn’t have gashmiyus either. Everything becomes a problem... technically, because he is distant from the Ribbono shel Olam and the shefah doesn’t come to him, and his nefesh is also not serene because he is lonesome and distant.
So, if a person sees that he is running into problems, he should examine his deeds (Berachos 5a). Don’t address this problem, and then this problem, and then another problem... get to the root of all the problems at once. Everyone knows that when there is a leak, we must call a plumber who will find the source of the leak. We can’t just try and stem the flow of water where we see it... we must find the source. Similarly, we must examine our deeds, for they are the root of our problems. When we repair the root cause, everything will be good in This World and in the Next World.
Staying Close
Furthermore, HaKadosh Baruch Hu has arranged the world in such a way that we will always feel that we are dependent on Him. No one ever feels so content that he feels he needs nothing... everything is fine—except for a rasha whom Hashem has cast away from Him, because He doesn’t want to hear from him at all. But an average person, who tries to follow the right path, will always feel that something is lacking. Sometimes these are genuinely big challenges—and then he needs lots of tefillah and chizuk—and other times they are more minor problems; seemingly, every time he wants to live in peace, some challenge crops up.
And the reason for this is obvious: If a person had everything he needed, he would become distant from Hashem. He would say, “Ribbono shel Olam! You can go on Your way. If I need anything, I’ll reach out.” When a person has worries on his mind, he will always stay close. He will always need to daven. Sometimes, he has to daven harder at רפאנו, and sometimes during other berachos of the davening.
Awakening Ourselves
What does the wise person do? He understands that HaKadosh Baruch Hu designed it this way so the person would remain close to Him. He says, “If so, why not address my ruchniyus deficiencies before I need to become awakened by gashmiyus problems? I have a great idea! I will awaken the feeling in myself that I am lacking spiritually... I will acknowledge that my situation isn’t the way it should be. I am a ba’al yissurim in ruchniyus. I will pour out my heart to Hashem to help me. I will meditate on this, I will be broken, I will strengthen myself—all so that Hashem should help me in my spiritual life.”
