In reference to Chanukah, now is the time to think about what we acquired over Chanukah and consider how we can take those lessons, attitudes, and inspiration with us for the entire year.
The Sfas Emes (Chanukah 5637) teaches that the purpose of a miracle is so that we should never forget that Hashem loves us and leads us in a special, unique way beyond the rules of nature. Hashem could save us from all troubles without performing miracles, but Hashem prefers to perform miracles at times so we can remember our special connection with Him. When the impression and inspiration of a miracle weaken over time, Hashem brings on another problem and then another miracle and salvation, so we will never forget Hashem's love for us.
The nes Chanukah was the final miracle (see an indication of this from Yoma 29.). The Sfas Emes says that this means we don't need another miracle to receive inspiration. There is enough inspiration and awareness of Hashem's love for us from the Chanukah miracle to last us throughout the long galus.
We quote the Sfas Emes:
"Hashem doesn't necessarily need to perform miracles to save us because He can arrange for the enemies not to harm us... Rather, the purpose of the miracles is to show Bnei Yisrael that Hashem leads them above the rules of nature. The miracles are uniquely the portion of Bnei Yisrael. The four malchiyos (galus) are so that Bnei Yisrael will always need miracles. And when Hakadosh Baruch Hu performed a miracle for our forefathers, they received chiyus, inspiration, from it. They recognized that Hashem protects them and leads them with rules above nature. When the inspiration from one miracle wore off – the miracle became old to them due to the heavy galus – they needed another miracle to inspire them, and Hashem performed another miracle for them. This was the pattern that recurred repeatedly in galus. After the Chanukah miracle, Hakadosh Baruch Hu didn't perform another revealed nes for Bnei Yisrael. This proves that the inspiration from the Chanukah miracles continues to shine... it has new inspiration for us, until the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our days, when Hakadosh Baruch Hu will perform new miracles for us.
חנוכה, from the word חינוך, means newness because this miracle is always new to us until Moshiach will come, speedily in our days."
