In this week's parashah, the Torah elaborates on the story of Yishmael, how he almost died from thirst, and Hashem accepted his tefillos and saved him (see 21:15-19). Several pasukim are dedicated to this story. The Radak writes, "The Torah goes into detail with all of this to teach that a person shouldn't be afraid if tzaros come his way; rather, he should trust in Hashem that the end will be good."
The Chidushei HaRim zt'l takes notice of an amazing episode that occurred during this incident. It states (21:19) עיניה את אלקים ויפקח הנער את ותשק מים החמת את ותמלא ותלך ,מים באר ותרא, "And Hashem opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and she filled the pouch with water and gave the lad to drink." This seems to imply that while Yishmael was ill with a high fever and thirsty for water, the well was stationed there the entire time; only Hagar didn't see it until that moment. The Chidushei HaRim zt'l teaches that this is how it is with all of Hashem's salvations. It is right before us. All that is needed is for us to recognize it.
This lesson encourages us. Sometimes we think that there is no hope for our situation, however, the yeshuah is already there. We just have to merit that Hashem open our eyes so we can find it and uncover it.
We say in Tehillim (121) מאין ההרים אל עיני אשא וארץ שמים עשה 'ה מעם עזרי ,עזרי יבא, "I shall raise my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come? My help is from Hashem, the Maker of heaven and earth." Chasam Sofer zt'l explains that Hashem created heaven and earth from nothing, and therefore Hashem can bring salvation from nothing as well. Therefore, when it seems that there is no salvation possible, it isn't a problem for Hashem. Hashem created heaven and earth from nothingness, and He can create a salvation for you as well!
Pirkei Avos (5:6) states, "Ten things were created [at the beginning of creation] on erev Shabbos, during bein hashmashos... Some add that the ram of Avraham Avinu was created at that time." Ra'v Bartenura explains that this doesn't mean that the ram lived for hundreds of years, from the beginning of creation until the Akeidah. Rather, it means that at the beginning of creation, it was decreed that when Avraham went to Akeidas Yitzchak, a ram should get caught in a bush. This saved Yitzchak's life because the ram was sacrificed instead of Yitzchak.
Says Reb Mendel Perlmutter zt'l, look how important it is to protect a Yid from danger and sorrow, that it is proper for his salvation to be prepared at the very beginning of creation. Yitzchak's salvation was ready from the beginning of creation; likewise, everyone's salvation is prepared from the beginning of creation.
So, you don't have to worry. Hashem will help you. Your needs are prepared and ready since brias haolam.
The Chofetz Chaim (Zechor l'Miryam ch.20) teaches:
