How Faith Changes Everything: A Powerful Story of Prayer and Divine Trust

While many of us turn to G-d to answer our prayers, there are times when we feel that we need to have a "back-up plan" just in case. If we truly want G-d to answer our prayers, we must approach Him with the deep awareness that “there is none besides Him.” Only He can help me. Only He can save me. Only He watches over me and my family. The day we truly internalize that, our prayers will change, and they will be heard differently.

There’s a story about a wealthy man. One day, a man came to him asking for financial help. He said, “I don’t usually ask people for help. It’s really embarrassing for me. I came only to you.” The wealthy man gave him a generous sum.

Later, a different poor man came asking for help. The same wealthy man gave him only fifty dollars. The man looked confused and asked, “I don’t understand. Why did you give the first guy a whole bundle of bills, and me only one?”

The rich man replied: “That first man—he doesn’t go around asking everyone. He came only to me. I couldn’t give him a small amount. But you’re asking from everyone, so I gave you a little, and the other wealthy people will help too. Together, you’ll get what you need.”

In the same way, when a person turns to G-d with the mindset of, “I came only to You, G-d. I’m not relying on anyone else", that kind of prayer receives a completely different, personal response.

This is the deeper meaning behind the prayer: “Avinu Malkeinu, ein lanu melech ela Atah” — “Our Father, our King, we have no King but You.”

A man who had a severe motorcycle accident was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. As he lay semi-conscious, just before being wheeled into surgery, he overheard one of the doctors saying: “Guys, don’t bother stitching him up too carefully.”

“Why?” someone asked.
The doctor replied, “In my experience, cases like his don’t make it. No point in wasting time.”

Three months later, after intensive rehabilitation, the man made a full recovery. He returned to the hospital to thank the medical staff for their care, and went looking for that same doctor.

When he found him, he said: “Hey, I was in that motorcycle accident three months ago. I was brought here, and before my surgery, I heard you say: ‘Don’t bother stitching him up, he won’t make it anyway.’”

The doctor looked stunned. “Wait…you’re the guy from that motorcycle accident?!”

“Yes,” he replied, “that was me.”

The doctor stammered, “Listen, don’t be upset with me. It’s just that…from my experience, people in your condition don’t survive. That’s all I meant.”

The man smiled and said: “I didn’t come to yell at you or be angry. I came to thank you, because you saved my life.”

He continued: “After the crash, I felt like my body was shattered, like an IKEA piece before it’s assembled. In my heart, I kept telling myself: ‘It’ll be okay. I’m going to the hospital. There are good doctors there. Why worry?’ “But then…I heard your words. And in that moment, I realized that I had no one to rely on but my Father in Heaven. When that truth hit me, I turned to G-d with my whole heart. I truly felt that only He could help me. That moment of absolute trust, that 'there is none besides Him’, changed everything.

“I’m standing here today, on my own two feet, because of that prayer. Because of that moment. You may have thought you were giving up on me, but you helped me turn to G-d in the purest way. When G-d is the one protecting us, miracles happen.”