Voluntary Prayers

Question

Does a voluntary prayer ever become a mandatory one? For the past several years, I’ve been praying to G-d in my own words in English for something I have wanted very much. G-d has still not answered my prayers. I have lost nearly all hope that G-d will grant my wishes or that what I am praying for is meant to be. I still fully believe in G-d, though I have come to the conclusion G-d has not intended for my wish to come true. At first my prayers were heartfelt, but now I am just rushing through it as part of my daily routine that I say in identical, memorized words each day. I am tired of taking the time out of my day to recite this prayer and I feel like quitting. But I am afraid if I quit, I am going down the ladder.

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    I truly empathize with your dilemma. Your voluntary prayer has not become a mandatory one because you have recited it for so long and there are no spiritual repercussions if you decide that want to stop reciting it.

    However, please allow me to add an extra comment about prayer in general. The most fundamental dimension of prayer is to internalize that idea that I have to turn to and that Hashem is the only Entity who can give me what I am asking for. Whether Hashem grants me my requests or not is not my decision to make (however much I would like Him to) but the very fact that I can turn to Him is the source of the most incredible comfort.

    Please do not misunderstand me, I am not telling you that you should continue with your personal request. I am simply trying to convey the beauty and the depth behind what prayer really is. It is an unparalleled opportunity to recognize that everything that I have comes only from One source – Hashem.

    Please accept my personal blessing that Hashem accept your prayers and that you accept Hashem’s answers.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team