Spiritual Credit Cards

Hashem hears the voice of everyone who calls out to Him, whether deserving or not. This is an intrinsic part of creation, for Hashem created the world to reveal His mercy and compassion.

The Torah teaches us about Hashem’s compassion when mentioning the poor person, to teach us a remarkable lesson. Do you have any idea why the person is poor in the first place? Because he or she lacks emuna! People are poor because they don’t call out to Hashem! The Torah testifies that Hashem is compassionate – if they would have called out Hashem’s name, Hashem would have answered a long time ago and they wouldn’t have fallen into such a destitute state.

Hashem gives us a wallet full of spiritual credit cards – Visa, Diners, Cart Blanche – and says, “Call My name and receive whatever you need.” Yet, we all walk around like spiritual beggars, when in essence, we have carte blanche, an unlimited account to use and to draw from. Why don’t we use it? Why don’t we call out to Hashem?

The answer is simple – the Evil Inclination – the Yetzer Hara – will do anything in the world to keep a person from attaining emuna. Go right ahead and do whatever you want, just so long as you don’t believe in Hashem. Since prayer, especially personal prayer, is the basis of emuna, the Evil Inclination does everything in his power to prevent a person from speaking to Hashem. He has 270 different arguments for every person, tailor made to clamp that person’s heart and mouth air tight: For example –

* I’m full of bad deeds – Hashem won’t listen to me. (Wrong! Hashem listens to everyone that calls Him.)

* If Hashem really cared about me, He wouldn’t have let me be poor in the first place. (Wrong! That’s the only way Hashem could teach you emuna and correct your soul, for if you were rich, you’d have never sought Hashem.)

* Hashem has bigger and better things to do; does he really care about me? (He sure does! His phenomenal Divine providence extends from the greatest creation to the minutest creation. He certainly listens to every one of His beloved sons and daughters.)

* Look at all the suffering in the world – is there really God in the world? (The Evil Inclination is really begging the question, because the reason of the world’s suffering is the fact that people transgress Hashem’s will.)

* I feel ridiculous talking to the wall… (Do you feel ridiculous about spending your time and money chasing after people who can’t guarantee a solution to your problems? With emuna, you’re not talking to the wall, but to your merciful Father in Heaven!)

The list goes on and on…

The Evil Inclination wants to close the very Gate of Salvation that Hashem promises us. Therefore, we must always remind ourselves of Hashem’s explicit promise straight out of the Torah: “I will listen, for I am compassionate.” When we pray, we should appeal to Hashem’s mercy, cling to it, and believe in it with all our hearts.

Here’s an example of how to speak to Hashem while appealing to His mercy: “Master of the World! The Torah testifies that You are compassionate and merciful and that You listen to the cries of everyone that calls Your name with no preconditions at all, whether a person’s righteous or not, deserving or not. Hashem, I therefore beg You to give me the free gift of Your limitless mercy and to listen to my prayers. Hashem, I believe with all my heart in Your attributes of mercy and Compassion just as I believe in You, so please let me pour my heart out to You. Please grant me the salvation I need, for no one can help me but You. You created the world to show Your mercy, so please give me Your merciful help. Help me return to You with all my heart. Please help me to strengthen my emuna and correct whatever I did wrong that caused me the current problems I have. Hashem, please accept my prayers and fulfill my wishes even though I deserve nothing…”

Anytime we turn to Hashem for anything, we should appeal to His infinite mercy and compassion.

When a person strengthens himself in emuna, clinging to the steadfast belief in Hashem’s mercy, he begins to see big miracles. Nothing can obstruct a humble and heartfelt appeal to Hashem’s mercy! Hashem is honor-bound to answer the cries of all who turn to Him. One should not allow anyone to weaken his resolve to pray and pray until those prayers are answered.