The problem is that we try to cherry pick. We want to be able to ask Hashem for everything outright—but we forget that the rest of our days must be filled with constant praise and thanks.
This brings to mind the story of Rav Yechezkel of Kuzmir, who was approached by a chassid for a berachah for parnassah. He answered that this is a place for avodas Hashem, not materialistic blessings. But later, the chassid witnessed another chassid approach the Rebbe with the same request, only to be granted a berachah. When he asked the Rebbe about this, the Rebbe said, “I will explain this to you with a mashal:
There was once a Yid who came to the marketplace, and saw that one of the merchants oiled the wagon wheels of one of his customers. So, he approached and asked for some oil too. The merchant said, “I am not a blacksmith. If I have a good customer, I am glad to provide this service and grease his wheels... but this isn’t my job.”
“Similarly,” said the tzaddik, “when a person comes here seeking blessings and guidance for his avodas Hashem, I am glad to bequeath berachos for gashmiyus as well. you have come here solely for parnassah... this is not what I do.”
In the same way, we must remember that our grandmothers saturated their days with praise and thanks to Hashem before ever supplicating for anything they needed, and this is why their tefillos were so exalted.
