The Test of Faith: I Prayed for a House, but Was Not Answered!

There was a story about a man with a large family who lived in overcrowded conditions, and his wife was already pregnant with their eighth child in a home with three small and cramped rooms, bringing his situation to a tipping point.

The man told me that he had prayed for a house over five hundred times, using various segulot without giving up, and he questioned why he wasn't answered in his prayers; isn't it disheartening? Doesn't this indicate that Hashem does not want to listen to me...?

I immediately recalled the question regarding Moshe Rabbeinu, who prayed 515 prayers to enter Eretz Yisrael, yet he was not granted entry. So I asked him, "What do you think Moshe Rabbeinu felt after praying 515 prayers to Hashem to enter Eretz Yisrael? And don't forget that Moshe's prayers were qualitatively different than yours, described by the Midrash as sharp-edged, tearing through the heavens. So how did Moshe feel after such numerous, sharp, and sincere prayers for the sake of Heaven, when Hashem still told him: 'Enough, do not speak to Me further on this matter'? Did he suspect, Heaven forbid, that Hashem hated him or was unwilling to listen to him? If he had not heard 'Enough, do not speak to Me further,' he might have continued to pray hundreds more prayers, or even more. So, you haven't heard such a pronouncement from Hashem; why would you not continue to pray?

The man continued to question me, asking, "Are you comparing me to Moshe Rabbeinu? Do we really have any understanding of Moshe's prayers and Hashem's relationship with him compared to that of an ordinary person like me?"

Then I replied with an answer every believing Jew needs to clearly understand. Hashem examines what the purpose and true goal in this world are for the person, and what is the means. Is it the Torah and prayer that are the ultimate purpose, or are they the frivolities of this world?

Thus, examine yourself: a person who prays 500 times for a house, and in the end, if not answered, they seem to believe their prayers were in vain. If answered, then their heart rejoices within them. Why? Because it appears that the prayers achieved their goal... that the goal has been reached - a house...

This is terrifying.

Are prayers a means to acquire a house?!

Is there a greater merit than connecting to Hashem and cleaving to Him, as someone who clings to Hashem through prayer achieves?

Hashem withheld the house from you to merit bringing you close through prayer, and when He saw that you were praying to Him earnestly to receive a house, He wished to grant you more, deciding to continue withholding the house so you would pray yet another prayer, which is a great gift for you. When you prayed again wholeheartedly, He decided to grant you another gift, which is another prayer, and so it continued, so He withheld the house from you.

There is, indeed, a disagreement between you and Hashem. Hashem saw the house as a means for your prayer, which is the end goal for you in His eyes, while you see your prayers as a means to the house, which is your ultimate goal...

A believer knows for certain that everything comes from Hashem, and by praying to Him, he expresses his dependence on the Creator, for it is to Him he directs his inquiries. However, the true test is if he really depends on the Creator, it is shown by what happens when he is not answered. If he stops praying, he cuts his dependency, but if his faith is strong, he sees only the good in the delay, whether it is to continue praying, which is the true goal leading to more completeness than the house would... or if it is meant to discipline him. This is a test faced by many people concerning delayed prayers.

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Thus, here is the text from the Ramban (Emunah and Bitachon Chapter 1). Also, he said, "Trust in Hashem and do good," meaning even if you know you have no merits and see yourself as wicked, nevertheless trust in Hashem for He is merciful and will have compassion on you, as it is said, "and His compassion is upon all His works," meaning righteous and wicked. It was said, "At the time a person suffers, what does the Shechinah say? 'I am hurt for My head, I am hurt for My arm...'" Therefore, it is said in the beginning, "Trust in Hashem," meaning whether you are wicked, trust in Hashem, etc. (Shaar HaBitachon - Shaar Aleph)

This article is taken from the book "Living with Faith." To purchase Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Lugasi's book, click here.