There’s an important principle of prayer that enables us to better understand the entire institution of tefillah. When we understand this principle, we will automatically have answered many of our questions regarding tefillah.
The yesod goes as follows: The mitzvah of tefillah was given to us by the Ribbono shel Olam as a vessel and a means to strengthen our emunah and bitachon in Him.
When a person accepts his problems with acceptance and love, and he believes “If the Ribbono shel Olam has placed me in this situation, it’s the very best thing for me, and I am happy about it,” he is indeed on an incredible level of emunah and bitachon—but the Ribbono shel Olam wants even more from us... to internalize even greater levels of emunah. And for this reason, He has given us the avodah of tefillah wherein a person can recognize his own smallness—recognizing how little he can do to help himself—and simultaneously acknowledge the גדלות הבורא, that only the Ribbono shel Olam can help him. Through this, he attains greater and greater levels of bitachon.
Another Corner of the Heart
Tefillah is essentially a method through which we can infuse bitachon to yet another corner and crevice of our hearts—a place that may not yet have internalized the reality that Hashem orchestrates everything for our good; to introduce bitachon to an area of our lives where we may not yet feel sufficiently that everything is run by Hashem. Even if we have remembered the truth, we may not have internalized it enough into our very essence so that we’re completely calm and serene. Tefillah enables the emunah and bitachon to penetrate and permeate the deepest parts of ourselves.
Bitachon and Tefillah Complement Each Other
As noted, when we understand that tefillah is a means to attain bitachon, many of our questions regarding tefillah will become resolved.
When we study the principles of bitachon properly, we will gain a far greater understanding in tefillah—for the entire institution of tefillah is essentially an addition, a branch of emunah and bitachon. Everything Chazal have taught us regarding tefillah is essentially a greater insight into the tenets of bitachon. Therefore, if a person understands bitachon, he may be able to reflect on what this can teach him regarding tefillah. One completes the other.
