The Chovos HaLevavos tells us: Wait one minute. When you need a favor, why do you immediately run to humans? You immediately begin feverishly thinking about whom you can ask for the favor. Let me go to someone who has mercy and compassion and love... forgetting that this person’s compassion also comes from Hashem’s compassion.
If so, why don’t you turn directly to the Source of all compassion? Don’t be so preoccupied with getting Hashem to push that person to agree to do you a favor... go directly to Him! Understand that the Ribbono shel Olam has more רחמים and that He knows your problems better than anyone. When you make a list of those who care about you, remember to place Hashem at the top of this list! If so, you can simply turn to Him and ask for the favor directly.
Don’t Feel So Dependent
When we learn such words, we may think: Is the Chovos HaLevavos teaching us that we can never ask a human being for a favor?! The answer is that if we were at the pinnacle of bitachon, we would indeed never need anything more than tefillah. We would simply approach the Ribbono shel Olam and trust that if it is ordained for us, the salvation will come.
However, we’re not always on this level. And so, the proper mehalech for us average people is to at least wait a bit after davening to Hashem, and only then turn to others, without feeling so reliant upon them.
Tefillah, Then Refocusing
When we take this approach, we will automatically greatly cut down the number of favors we ask of others. We will see that, rather than having to grovel to others for a favor, they will offer it to you... Hashem will already send His messengers.
