Gratitude for the Past, Prayer for the Future: The Rambam’s Guide to Everyday Life

For events that have already happened, there is nothing we can do to change them. For events that still lie ahead, we have no way of knowing how they will unfold. The Rambam (Hilchot Berachot 10:26) offers guidance on how to approach both situations:

"In general, a person should always pray for what is yet to come and ask for mercy, give thanks for what has already passed, and express gratitude and praise to the best of his ability. Whoever increases his gratitude and praise of Hashem at all times is praiseworthy."

Learning to Appreciate What Has Already Happened

What should we do about the things that have already happened? We tend to remember what we lack, what didn't work out, and what we still wish we had. Yet the things that turned out well are often quickly forgotten. A problem gets resolved, we move on to the next concern, and before long, we can barely remember how worried we were about it in the first place.

The Rambam teaches us to "give thanks for what has already passed." This does not apply only to extraordinary miracles or dramatic moments of salvation. It also includes the small blessings that accompany us through everyday life: good health, someone who helped us at just the right moment, a problem that was resolved, a day that passed peacefully, or a worry that turned out to be unfounded.

It is worth taking a moment to remember what went well today, including the things that seem perfectly ordinary. After all, our lives are filled with gifts that once brought us tremendous happiness but have since become so familiar that we barely remember to appreciate them.

Praying for What Lies Ahead

What about the things that have not yet happened? Here, the Rambam writes: "A person should always pray for what is yet to come and ask for mercy."

We can make plans, prepare carefully, and do everything within our power to achieve a desired outcome. But ultimately, not everything is within our control. That is why, alongside our own efforts, there is also room to turn to Hashem in prayer.

We can ask that the day pass peacefully, that an important meeting go well, that we make the right decision, that we remain healthy, or that we find a solution to something troubling us. Even the most ordinary concerns of daily life are worthy of prayer. We are responsible for doing what we can, while recognizing that the final outcome is not entirely in our hands.

Many of us remember to pray only when a problem has already appeared. When the pressure builds, when something goes wrong, or when we no longer know what to do, we instinctively turn to Hashem for help. But the Rambam is specifically speaking about what has not yet happened. His words, "what is yet to come," remind us that we do not have to wait for a crisis before turning to God.

We can pray in advance, before an important meeting, before making a decision, before a particularly busy day, or ahead of an event that makes us anxious. Prayer can become part of how we approach life, rather than something we reserve for emergencies.

Making Gratitude a Daily Habit

The same principle applies to gratitude. It is relatively easy to remember to thank Hashem after experiencing a remarkable blessing or an extraordinary salvation. What is much harder is remembering to give thanks when everything simply goes as it should.

The Rambam writes that a person should "express gratitude and praise to the best of his ability." Gratitude should accompany us every day, rather than being reserved for special occasions. We can thank Hashem for something that worked out, for assistance we received, for a concern that never materialized, or for a blessing that has become such a regular part of our lives that we hardly notice it anymore.

In fact, the blessings we encounter most frequently are often the easiest to take for granted. Yet as we develop the habit of expressing gratitude, we may begin to recognize more and more of the goodness that was always present but previously escaped our attention.

Two Simple Questions That Can Change Our Perspective

Anyone who wants to put the Rambam's teaching into practice can begin by asking two simple questions: What am I grateful for from what has already happened? What would I like to ask Hashem for regarding what still lies ahead?

We can speak to Hashem in our own simple words, thanking Him for the blessings we have already received and asking for His help with the things we still need. In this way, we learn to appreciate what we have been given while continuing to turn to Hashem with hope and trust about the future.

The Rambam concludes with a powerful reminder: "Whoever increases his gratitude and praise of Hashem at all times is praiseworthy."