When Prayer Becomes a Conversation With Hashem

You wrote a long message, seven lines, then deleted it all and left only: “Do you have a minute?” A minute later, the reply came: “Call me.”

With a close friend, we usually know how to begin, even when it is hard to explain what happened. With the Creator of the world however, we sometimes search for the right wording, even though we can speak to Him about exactly what is on our hearts.

Hashem as the “Beloved of the Soul”

“Beloved of the soul, compassionate Father.” It is easy to sing the familiar Yedid Nefesh without stopping to notice how the piyut begins. Rabbi Elazar Azikri, one of the great Kabbalists of Safed and the author of the hymn, addresses the Creator as “Beloved of the soul.”

That idea carries a simple but powerful message: we can tell Hashem everything.

The Piaseczner Rebbe writes in Chovat HaTalmidim: “Do you have any friend or companion like your Father in Heaven, about whom our Sages hinted in the verse, ‘Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend’—this refers to the Holy One, blessed be He. And who can understand the thoughts of your heart, and who can heal your soul, as He can?”

He then gives practical guidance: “Seclude yourself in a private room, if you can. If not, turn your face toward the wall and picture in your mind that you are standing before His Throne of Glory, and pour out your heart before Him in prayerful conversation, in whatever language comes naturally to you.”

Speak in Your Own Words

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov teaches similarly in Likutei Moharan: “Everything that is in his heart, he should speak out and tell before Him, blessed be He.”

This does not require only lofty or carefully worded prayer. You can speak to Hashem about the ordinary things that happened during the day.

“I was hurt by what they said to me at work.” 

“This migraine will not go away, and it is so difficult.”

“I do not know where I belong.”

“The house is full, but I feel so alone.”

Hashem already knows what we are going through before we explain it. And still, there is something meaningful about putting those feelings into words: “I have been thinking about this all day and I do not know what to do. Please help me.”

When something is weighing on your heart, you do not need to wait until you know exactly how to express it. You can simply begin: “Hashem, there is something I want to tell You.” Then continue in your own words, even if they come out confused, unfinished, or imperfect.

He is the Beloved of the soul. Before Him, there is no need to pretend that everything is fine.